The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-02
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 There is a big difference between the two. A tyro in village store who picks out few articles and tries to arrange them in a small window may be called a window dresser, but he is far removed from the display man who has to plan campaign months ahead to take care of the great window space at his dis posal.
 A display man must be both artist and merchant He must know the value of colors and the worth of merchandise. He is first cousin to the stage manager. He also has to produce striking effects.
 
 If you do not believe this just take a stroll through Birmingham's retail dis trict and note the beautiful shades in draperies and costuming that have been arranged by experts to attract your gaze, compare favorably with the best scenic effects shown on the stage.
 Someone whose name I know not in writing the display mans apostrophe says:
 With steady hand I set my stage each
 day
 While side-lights twinkle on the little
 play
 Prepared for you-to halt your passing
 way
 And bid you pause, perchance, to make
 you say,
 Here's something good l wonder if you
 know
 4t,t pv.of
 show
 With lifeless things and make them
 quickly grow To speak for me and hold you as you ITO make dumb cloth call out with siren
 cry
 And lure your fancy as it bids you buy, While boots and scarfs and even collars
 sigh
 For your approval while they'd make you
 try
 To test your charm and catch their fleet
 ing glance. Each member of the cast, l make It
 prance
 For your inspection and it's worth en-
 nance
 By cunning skill to lead you on; they
 dance
 A little while and then l must recall The puppet troupe and clear the stage Of
 all
 That some new play may have the daily
 call;
 While I, the snowman hope and pray
 you'll fall!'
 Did you know that here in Bir- mingha are a number of display men who rank at the very head of their profession? You needn't smile. It takes a true artist to paint pictures with merchandise.
 A Birmingham display man pulled down a first prize in a national com petition. This week among them is one of great rivalry for each one wants to make his windows the feature of Fashion Week.
 I've been going behind the scenes for the past few days, greatly interest ed in what the boys are going to pull off for Fashion Week. I cant tell tales out of school. but some of the stunts are going to be very clever, while others will be most elaborate. My brother used to own an opera house and during my boyhood as ush- CT I got to see good deal of the show behind the curtains and became familiar with stage scenery. costumes and mechanical effects.
 It would surprise the average shop per to know that the property room of So,pa If tba d;Snlav man in tha hi O department stores resembles very closely those in the great theatres.
 
 I got to talking with one of the highest priced display men in Bir- mingham about his models. I learned that each one had name. and, strange to say, was treated as an individual The treatment was based on proper psychology.
 Here is how it works out practical ly: If it's a hat. waist skirt jacket, dress, necklace. coiffure, lingerie, slip of milady's apparel he makes his se- lection not for a wax model but just as if for living, breathing woman. This gives the human touch. As he goes through the store picking here and there all the time he has in mind Susie, Mary. Jane, F1oribel, Annette, Madame Sara, Frau Katrina etc. Ev- cry model has a name and a person. ality and is dressed in keeping with her style and station. Quite interest ing. Is it not?,
 
 I'm glad the Bushels Mems league is behind the movement to make Bir- mingham's windows one of the great attractions of the gala week begin- ming March B. They will follow last years pro- gramme and on Saturday night few minutes before o'clock lights will be put out and on the stroke of the will be relit and the windows opened to dazzle the crowd. I started to mention some of the great windows in the city. but there are so many beautiful ones that 1t would take too much space, and then might unintentionally leave out somebody's pride and get myself in | trouble. l want every display man. whether 1 he has one or a score of windows to l dress. to do his dead level best. l l want every line of merchandise in Bir- min gham to be shown in a becomfn q | and attractive way. Let's have not only varied color schemes, but let some try