The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-07-22


one thing, and that is
that money is plen<i-
tuL" said my newly made acquaintance.
the shoeman, as we stood in front of
his establishment on Fillmore strsa+
and watched the stream of femininity
pouring in and out of the place.
And a profitable and pleasant sight
10 you" I suggested as a sort OF adden-
DUN to his remark, having in mind the
recent fire and the enormous loss he
had certainly sustained.
Indeed II is" he replied. and the
satisfied look on his beaming counte-
nance was ample evidence of his sin
certify.
But did it ever occur to you that
A the shoemen have their share of
Y troubles? Take, for instance, the
throng, in that store; it is true that #
is an unusually large one for Tuesday
afternoon and it means, as you said. a
good business for us Still, selling
shoes isn't altogether fun. The more
shoes some women buy the more
trouble we have. 1t would seem that
the average woman. when she BUYS
shoes, expects fmpossibnities.
And. just for fun" he suggested.
let US go into the store and tn try
TO furnish you with a case on all fours.
as the legal gentlemen would say
and suiting the word we entered. He
led the way down the woman's side of
the store, carefully listening as we pro-
ceeded.
il was not my first visit TO a shoe
store. and this wasn't the first crowded
one I had visited in San Francisco.
Yet the scene on this occasion really
interested me and was specuIating in
my mind as to what criticism the pro-
prietor OF a busy establishment like
this could make when it meant so
much profit TO him.
As if reading my thoughts, he sud
denly stepped up close to me and in a
ow tone remarked as he quietly swung
{hs head in certain direction: There
is an illustration for you"
A little way from me was a woman
carefully Inspecting a shoe that had
just been placed upon her foot To me
the shoe looked as If it had been spe-
ciaIly made for the plump foot within
IL, and I imagined. judging by the look
on the face of the patient clerk who
was attending the woman, that he
shared my view. Suddenly the woman
stood up. twirled about, glanced at the
shoe from every point Of vantage and
then softly said as she dropped back
into her seat:
1T looks all right. but it's a size
larger than am ia the habit of wear
ing"
In delicate way the clerk sneothed
out the last tiny wrinkle in the silk
stocking about the ankle. as he re-
marked rather assuringly:
7 never saw a better fit, madam"
The woman shook her head.
Take it Of" she rejoined. 1T feels
all right, too, but can't wear a size
larger than I've been accustomed to-"
The salesman reluctantly obeyed and
as 1 glanced inquiringly at the propri-
etor eager to learn what the next move
would be, he shook his head as if he
Would like TO shake the particular wo-
man. too.
Wouldn't you think that a woman
would be satisfied if a shoe fitted and
looked well?" he asked. That one
isn't a bit different from hundreds that
come in here.
Another matter about which the
woman shopper is very inconsiderate
is the time of the salesman. When
woman is really suited with shoe
and means to take it she win go right
on asking to have others fitted and at
the end of useless half-hour will say:
Well. I guess I'll take the one l
tried on first.
I heard woman one day say as
she left the store:
7 didn't intend 60 buy any shoes.
but had to wait for a train and I've
had a dozen pairs tried on "
To give variety 10 the conversation
at this moment a customer with
small package in her hand approached
the shoe dealer.
Il lost one of my pumps" she ex-
planned. and as they were new
thought-perhaps-
He smiled understandingly while he
explained that TO send to the factory
and have one made would cost as
much as new pair Of shoes.
She described the mIshap.
Il Just slipped my foot out Of IL and
forgot When 1 got of the car /
stepped right down in the street in my
stocking and the car went on. I
yelled 20 the conductor and a man
threw it out right in front Of an auto
mobile. 1t was simply ruined"
From the stories that come to the
shoe emporium it seems that this acct
dent is only one Of many.
Women will wear pumps" said the
dealer, because they are natty and
show the openwork stocking and give
the foot q very smart look. but there
are certain feet that can no more wear
them than certain noses can support