Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-28
SUNDAY MAGAZINE for JANUARY 2s. 1906

SAN~N-~
happy to make the purchase for you; it
will take only minute of my time
A half-hour later Nobnoddy laid a |
sample of ordinary black-silk cloth on !
the counter before a salesman, remark |
ing that he would take a yard of the
same material The salesman studied the |
sample closely, felt of it, and finally asked:
Where was this sample obtained?"
Then Nobnoddy remembered that his
wife had said something about where to
go for the goods, but he had paid no
attention to her instructions, for he had |
mentally resolved to run into the store
that was handiest and get it without |
wasting a moment of his valuable time
He informed the salesman that he did not |
know where the sample originally came
from, whereupon the latter, after show
ing it to another salesman, turned to the
impatient customer and said:
Every sorry, sir, but we have nothing
in the store that will match that.
What" said Nobnoddy, in a |
dazed condition. Cant you match a |
piece of common black sikh" and he
fastened to another store. Here the
clerk took down about fifty pieces OF
silk, all but two of which he returned to
the shelves Those two he carried to
the front of the store where the light was |
a little brighter. Nobnoddy was becom-
ing eager to get to his Office. He had |
already lost considerable time, and was
beginning to wonder at the Importance
that silk-salesmen attached to their
simple work.
This piece said the salesman after
he had wasted several minutes of Mob
noddy's time, us the right color, but .
it is too heavy; and this piece is all right |
in weight, but is off in shade. Very
sorry, but neither of them will do
And Nobnoddy, in an awful frame of
mind, hurried on. At the next store the
salesman took great deal of time and
went about the work of matching a |
piece of silk as though he was the only |
person in the whole world who knew |
Just how it should be done. From a
large number of pieces he selected three
and took them to the light. Nobnoddy |
took an active interest in the del1bera-
tions, hoping that he might bring matters
to a successful and intelligent termination
This piece would do, said the clerk |
"only it is too light in weight; this is
right in weight, but off in color; this is
right in weight and color, but you see
it has no gloss. Very sorry, but none
of them will answer"
Nobnoddy groaned, remarked some
thing addressed to nobody in particular
and started on. The afternoon was fast
wearing away, and it was already be-
ginning to grow late. The stores were
crowded and hot as ovens. Nobnoddy's
collar was melted and his stock of patience
was just about in condition to be placed
on the remnant counter. But he assured
himself that he would buy that yard of
silk if it took all summer.
At the next store hope shone brightly
for an instant. This piece of silk,
explained the salesman, is right in
weight, color and gloss, but the twill is
not the same as that of the sample and
could not be used with it. -
From that time forth Nobnoddy had
no clear recollection of what happened.
His mind became dazed in his mad rush
from store to store. He grew to be i'm
patient with those who were ahead of
him in being waited on at the silk-counter.