Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-22
Was IT Brutal?

stout Iady-oNow. Emily. be sure
you meet me at IS on Wednesday
al three am to try on that suit they
are altering eor me and I Just must
have some one with me-"
pray, why? You surely have sense
enough to know whether your gown FITS
or not"
Stout Lady-"Sensel 1t isn't 2 ques-
tion of sense. The litter talks, and the
eirI who sold the suit talks, and they
both talk together, until am so dead
tired I can't think. Be sure you meet
me-" They parted, and I wanted very
badly TO tell them what / did. I trieu
or a suit the other day. and this was
the conversation that ensued:
Clerk-"That fits you beautifully
That was a blue suit trimmed with
black had said / didn't want a
blouse. as I am short and rather stout
looked in the glass. II was at least
two sizes too large and blouse. said
II don't want a blouse; please, bring
me plain Jacket and size a."
1--WE can alter that to fit you exactly
madam. Three dollars for aitera-
ticns"
"I don't want blouse"
Another suit put on. "Therel that 10
very nice You certainly do look bet
ter in a coat" ehrruped the clerk.
both felt and looked like trussed fowl
"This suit is too small" | ventured.
you said the other was too large
| this I'm an apgrieved tone
"I say it again." I replied, land this
is too small" Looking at the tag, I
frd this one is size 80, the other was SS.
The next was my size, "a. and needed
some alterations, which they promised
to do and went back to try 1t on. The
"ftter" hustled in and put the gown ON
me. Then she fell back. pursed up her
lips and stood silent, looking at me. "At
last 1 have struck a women with good
common sense" thought, "she is look
ing to see what is wrong"
Vain hopel it was merely the attitude
CT rapture, then the stream of words
began.
"Could anything be more perfect?"
this to the clerk.
Just lovely" said the clerk.
"It bags in the back'-this from me.
Bags! Oh, no. indeed. just see," and
the litter" held the shoulders up.
1T can't have some one hold the coat
Up all the time" / meekly protested.
You will not have to, madam tone
freezing. when this coat is stitched it
will be all right. absolutely So"
Eyes, indeed, it fits you lovely" said
the clerk
"The sleeve Is too long, 1 said.
Sleeve too long! oh, no; you will
| find that the sleeve is exactly right
when it is stitched
Clerk chimes in, "Yes. indeed, madam.
the suit looks just lovely on you!"
Fitter-"See how beautifully the back
fits, and the colar!"'
Clerlk-"Yes, it's just lovely. Indeed,
madam, it's perfection.
/ try to put in a word, but both talk
together, sounding the praises of the
garment, and at last in desperation
say:
"WilI you both kindly stop talking
for few moments while examine the
fit of this suit myself. have to wear
1t, not you"
1t was brutal, but years of being
"downed" by clerks has hardened me.
A silence that was freezing in its in
tensity fell over us. 1 told the filter
what / considered wrong in the gar
ment, she pinned it, still frozen stiff!
I stepped out of it, she threw it over
her arm and swept away with a digni-
fed bow and l was left with the little
! clerk. 1 smiled and said: Il was
sorry to be SO rude, but couldn't think
while you two were talking"
at don't blame you a bit,' she
laughed. 1--WE just have to do it. Make
the customers believe they like it and
it will be all right, we are told. l sup
pose some like that way of doing
things, but it's relief to find one that
doesn't.
My suit fitted all right when l got it
home.