The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1913-01-17
SHOPPERS MANY WOES
BY BARBARA BOYD.

being the man Of knowledge, and ask
ed pleasantly: Can you tell me where
I can find knitted sleeping caps?'
He looked slightly puzzled. Knit
ted sleeping caps?" he responded du
t'iously.
Yes For outdoor sleeping. One
needs something to protect the head
you know"
Yes, to be sure. They are in tbs
muslin underwear department"
But they aren't underwear"
NO. But the fannelette night
gowns are there, and"
But these aren't fannelette," she
objected.
. understand" he said soothingly.
But all such things are together
Fourth floor; take the elevator"
So she took the elevator, though
she thought whimsically that more
correctly, it took her, and journeyed
to the fourth floor.
Il am looking for knitted sleeping
caps" she explained to a saleswoman
IN the muslin underwear department,
something to wear on the head for
sleeping outdoors"
The saleswoman flung out a fan
Cclette nightgown with a hood.
No, that isn't what l want. 1 just
want cap for the head. 1t is made
purposely for sleeping outdoors. 1t is
knitted"
You'll find the knitted things in
the Art Needlework," said the sales
woman, gathering up her nightgown
''But this isn't exactly art needle
work."
'All the knitted goods are there"
replied the saleswoman, putting the
nightgown in a drawer, and turning
away.
So to the Art Needlework Jared the
searcher for night cap, and once
more told the tale of her needs.
1--WE have these knitted motor
toques," said the saleswoman.
No, they are not what l want
These sleeping caps are made pur-
posoly for sleeping outdoors They
are knitted to fit over the head and
come well down over the forehead"
The saleswomar's face showed a
glea-- [ = Intelligence. 81 know" she
said. "Youu find them in the Hosiery
Department"
"Hosiery!'
Eyes. All the knitted things are
there. It's the Subway Gallery in the
basement"
So to the basement the woman jour
neyad and interviewed the stocking
counter
The saleswoman shook her head.
"You should have gone to the knit I'M
derwear counter" she said with a note
of mild reproof in her voice. And as
the searcher turned away she heard
the saleswoman say to fellow clerk:
They'll be coming here for washtubs
next"
YEARLY she leaned against the knit
underwear counter Have you knit
ted sleeping caps?" she asked sales
man.
Motion counter" he said briskly.
He spoke SO confidently hope re-
vived, and she turned her footsteps
toward the notion counter.
You'll find them" said the sales
woman in reply to her inquiry.
"No, I won't" replied the woman
firmly. "They are not in house fur
nishings, nor in harness supplies, nor
yet in Photographic goods nor jewelry.
The shoe department hasn't got them,
nor gloves. In fact, l don't think they
are in the store"
At this the saleswoman woke up.
why don't you try the office of the
she asked. ITS right
down Main street. I'll look up the
number in the phone book"
This she did, ard confident the
quest was now at an end, the worn
and weary searcher set forth down
Main street. But at the number Civ
en- there was no knit goods office, and
nobody in the noighborhood knew of
any. For q moment she looked at
store across the street.
But her watch told her the morning
was gone, neF IS9L tOlu HeF she was
dead tired, and her common sense
told her to go home and sleep indoors
like ordinary mortals.
And when her husband asked her
that night if she had been shopping
she said, "No. Hunting" Whereat
he made some sarcastic remarks {
about the time women waste fooling
around in the shops. But she was
too tired to onen I'D an argument.