Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-03-30

fellow we see everywhere, is the one
who keeps a small shop, selling things
over the counter, and the particular
feature about him in our eyes is how
much in every respect he is the very
opposite Of that merchant We have
for years heard so much about. To
us he is only another example Of how
the Chinese do things differently from
what we consider the correct way at
home. American shops are kept
clean and orderly, things of the same
kind being kept together an effort
being made TO show all off to the best
advantage. In Chinese stores with
the exception Of silver and silk shops
there is no pretense at arrangement
at all-the soap being found in the
nail keg, candles, bacon and butter
somewhere on shelves beneath dried
fish, cahbages yeast powders and
kerosene oil cans. But for the prodi-
gious memory of the Chinese, they
would be unable to find anything In
their stores The want Of cleanliness
IS as conspicuous as the lack Of order.
The floors are Uttered with rubbish
and decorated with splotches Of
grease or dirty water with little chill
dren todling about or sprawling over
all. As a customer enters one of these
establishments he sees a group of at
tendants, usually sitting or loafing
about, who welcome him with a broad
stare. Then one Of the number lay
ing aside his long pipe, with an effort,
detaches himself from the rest, comes
forward and stares some more. The
customer states what he wishes and
is at once asked how much Of that
particular article he wants, what is
the size and color OF it, and such 9TH
er questions as may occur to the shop
man. These being answered, 1t will
be grudgingly admitted they have
some and after while the article will
be produced. If the customer wishes
to see other samples he will he told
the one he has is what he called for,
then If he persists more will be forth
coming--otherwise not. Now comes
the cost. The first price asked is al
ways not less than two or three times
the actual selling price. The haggling
begins, and at last the shopman shows
some evidences Of life. If the custom
er is a native the transaction will aft
er some time, be arranged to the sat
isfaction of both, but If a foreigner,
he must submit to being victimized
or leave the shop, which he frequent
ly does while paying the shopman
such compliments in porfanty as he
can hastily recall in two languages.
He can buy that article cheaper on
the next visit and at Its actual price
on a third visit, but not now. All
this Is deliberately done on principle,
the Chinese idea being, that by dis
playing no anxiety to do business, it
Is always possible to drive a better
bargain.
For customer to display eager
ness IN buying what he wants is the
very surest way to invite rudeness,
an extortionate price and probably
fail in his quest at any price. Bust
ness can only proceed with dispatch
and smoothness when a merchant
pretending he does not want to sell.
meets n customer who does not care
whether he buys or not. with both
parties understanding the rules the
game IS played without a hitch. Now
and again an establishment can be
found at one Of the ports whore busi-
ness is transacted along the lines pur-
sued by the foreign devils. But even
in one Of these a blind Chinaman
wishing TO purchase anything IS al
ways accompanied by q friend whose
eyesieht is sharp enough to detect
fraudulent goods and spurious money
a man Of any observation Is not long
in China before he discovers that TO
actually know this people It rs alb
solutely necessary TO forget nine
tenths Of the rubbish he gathered
from stories and read I'm books.