Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-21

fat man leaped around. Eleanor" he
cried. what are you doing?
AS if in answer came another pierre
ing squawk. Eleanor had found a bit
,of mechanism which when blown emit
ted sounds indicative OF sorrow and
distress. She insisted on keeping it.
oh. thunder said the fat man.
He received his bundle and hied him
self forth with the youngsters, each
clinging to him with one hand and to
a large package with the other.
Lots of EN- like that, said the shop
keeper. as he watched them go. Those
uncles worry more than nine mothers
would
Men have the edge on women when
they make purchases in cigar stores, but
everywhere else the woman leads by a
mile and half. When woman goes
into a store she marches firmly up to the
saleswoman in the department which she
has chosen. plants her hands on the edge
of the counter and begins to look around
There is a momentary test of hypnotic
power between her and the saleswoman,
because every saleswoman. in her heart,
has desire to reduce her customer to
her way of thinking.
Usually this contest doesn't last long.
The SaleSWonan retreats in good order
after the second minute and the business
of the day is taken up. The woman has
made up her mind in advance what she
is going to buy and no saleswoman can
dissuade her. Furthermore she isn't in
hurry, and there again she has the
edge on the saleSwoman. She examines
the stock critically, carefully and coldly.
Sometimes she makes diSparaginS re-
marks. She waits calmly while her bun
die is sent to cave by means of an
aerial trolley and she reiigiously counts
the 8 cents change which is brought 10
her.
to do the same thing. AS soon as he
gets in the store a sort of haze comes
over him. He perspires. No, he doesn't t;
he just sweats. His eyes rove wildly
stamped a look of pitiful appeal All he
wants is to buy something and get out.
Now he approaches counter ana
timidly asks where he can get the ar
ticle he has in mimi.
Third aisle in the back end or the
store on the third floor says the sales
girl in the tones Of a warden reading
the death sentence And then the man
begins Journey in search of the spot
He attempts to remember what he in
tended to buy when he gets on the
third floor and discovers he has com
pIetely forgotten But by this time he
is desperate and doesn't give hang
ard only wants to escape before he Is
arrested for stepping on one OF the
throng of women that jostle him about
SO he bolts toward a place where ne
sees some pockethooks displayed He
digs down and slaps a two-dollar bill!
and picks up pocketbook advertised
at s1.91 and starts out.
Sir
At the cry he stops like Il stricken
thief The salesgirl is reckoning hin
while she holds his tWc-dollar bill.
''YeS?' he falters.
You can't do that, sir" says the safes
girl coldly. You must have this pocket
book wrapped.
But l don't want it wrapped pleads
the man. Il never did like my pocket
books wrapped. Besides. this is Christ
mas present and | want to get box
for it.
1T must go to the DESK decided the
girl, and the man, who is now mer
driveling apology. hands it over like d
man who has been caught trying to stea
church poor box The house detective
comes and looks the man over while Ia
i waits. trying, doubtless. to recall in what
rogles' gallery he has seen him before.
Finally the package comes back. The
man takes it in = numb sort of way and
totters toward the outer air. And there
beneath the clear winter sky, he register:
a curse-not a cursory curse. but deep
chested, well muscied, comprehensive
curse-aganst-the man who first estah-
lished the principle of trading centers.