The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-03
HIS EIGHTY.DoLLAR COAT.
The HiEh-priced Garment That
Caused Trouble.

NAUse0 AEoubEe-
From the Chicago News
Isn't that the $50 overcoat you were
Dragging so much about?" asked the
inquisitive person.
Guess it is" answered the man
in the prosperous-looking garment.
Why"
"Oh, nothing. only you look mighty
discouraged for fellow who is able
to support one Of the SWEETEST overcoats
on the street"
Discouraged. Ell? Wei. perhaps you
would be. TOO, if you-but let me tell
you about IT. I actually needed a new
oyereOat and happened TO see what I
thought was neat pattern in one Of
the show windows. went in TO ask
the price
Who should the proprietor be but a
fellow I used TO play marbles with
down in the country, when we were
boys? Before we began to talk busi-
ness I confessed to being the best sales
man in jain * Co.'S at about three
times the pay yours truly can COM
mand at present. 1 had 10 make some
sort of a huff at being a success.
When we came back 10 the subject
Of overCOats my tailor friend told me
the singular virtues Of this thing in
which you behold me- He swore that
/ there was nothing like it this side OF
New York. that IT was special weave
and pattern, and all wool at that. And
seeing that / was an old friend Of his,
and so On-you know the kind OF story.
I did have the courage 10 murmur
Z - al baf
higher than I had expected to pay. but
didn't tell him that SO was the high
est l had ever gone before.
Now, look here. said my friend
/ clothes make the man. Why, a coat
such as ] Will make up for You-cut the
/ latest with straight back-wiu make
you one of the handsomest men in town
and besides il will increase your sales.
! Ii you look like "a big, plump success,
every one viii think you are making
money and hand over the orders Peo-
pie like 10 deal with statesmen who look
prosperous
so 1 gave him the order
III never forget the first day I wore
it. After putting it on 1 walked straight
for the beanery where 1 had eaten so
many MONDAY lunches. Then came my
first shock. for it suddenly occurred to
me that 40 self-respecting $50 coat
would like to be placed before a ham
sandwich and a draw one. So"
That's Why" interrupted the in
quisitive person. you have been going
to De Smiths and"
And paying seventy-fve TO one-ffty
for lunches2 And being broke all the
time? Yes, that is why"
But it was nothing compared 70 the
worry l have been staggering under.
You see, with the old coat I was not
compelled TO keep awake all the time
didn't have to sit facing that precious
garment day in. day out.
But let me tell you that when he
patronizes high priced tailor a fellow
has to notice things. Why, in the first
week 1 caught three gentlemen making
a mistake. They just simply walked
up, put my coat on and started out"
But you made money with the coat2
Sold lots more goods. didn't you?"
Did l? on the contrary, when my
customers saw me coming with that
coat I was encored TO a finish, but they
gave their orders to my competitor.
who gave the impression that there was
not s"ch a big percentage Of profit in
what he sold.
But ] wouldn't care so blamed much
If It hadn't been for what happened at
the Office. You see, Miss Baiteman and
! were real friendly. ! used TO ride
home with her most every night.
Now she prefers to be seen with the
bookkeeper, and you ought to see the
old clothes he trots SAY would you
believe 1t, she told the other stenOg-
rapher that she liked me real WELL but
that her last years jacket didn't match
the $50 affair Of mine.
''Aw what's the use2"