Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-22
CHAPTER CxLvI

|
~ this column. The most Interesting prob.
.sms o. ,nauirsrs rili be poren into the
story Of Peter Flint.
CHAPTER CxLV1
REFoRE I say anything about the
~ good time and surprise we had at
home. I want to record the other two
sales which observed in Springfield.
After that bum example Of selling
which I experienced in that little gents
furnishing store I was eager to try an
other store. This time I went into quite
a swell-looking place.
AS soon as I got inside a middle aged
man came to me and started washing
his hands with invisible soap. What
may / do for you, sir?' he said In the
politest Of tones
II wanna coupla collars" I replied.
He Immediately dropped his suave
manner and said. with almost a sneer
First counter to the right"
Gosh thought. they don't want
you here unless you buy fur overcoat
every time
Still. thought I'd learn something
worthwhile. so l went to the counter and
| the young man asked me what size col
| lar I wore
| When I told him fourteen and a half
he brought out two or three boxes OF
collars and held up one which looked
just like the one I had on.
This" he said. rs the new King
George style; 1t would suit you admir-
ably"
IL don't want no King George style.
Have you any President Wilson stvle?"
~ don't know that style" he said
without flicker. This Is the very
latest style-f wear II myself"
Somehow as soon as he said that. I
determined not to buy It, Perhaps I
was bit of a snob. but thought was
better than he was. II he had told me
that the Mayor Of Springfield wore that
collar It would have been different. but
gosh I'm not going to let some s10-a-
week counter hopper be fashion plate
for me
He showed me one or two other makes,
and always picked out those ne didn't
like. finally ordered two collars and
he put them one side.
Then he said, I'VE have a very hne
line Of battery silk shirts at only 1915
each"
II don't want any shirts I replied.
Have you seen our new Cheshire silk
ties? We have a very exclusive line IN
$3.50 each"
Il don't want anything else. Here"
and planked down half dollar on the
counter and waited for my change.
He took the money and handed me
my parcel. I waited for minute and
as nothing happened I said, When do
l get my changer"
Change? Wasn't it half dollar
you gave me? That was quite right
two collars. twenty-five cents each"
Say, what do you think l am?
want those fifteen-cent colars-two for
quarter"
"Oh, you mean those cheap collars?"
| And without a word he unwrapped my
collars and brought out some of the
cheaper kind
! grabbed the first two he showed me,
got my twenty cents change and came
out Of that store feeling like piker.
Never again in that store for mine.
They're too darned stuck on themselves:
The last place I went into Interested
me most. I soon found the kind Of col
lar | wanted. told the salesman I
wanted to buy two.
yes, sir. They're eighty-hve cents
the half dozen. Would you care to save
a nickle?'
NO, I only need two now"
VERY good sir. BY the way. see
YOU are wearing very smart blue
striped shirt. I'd like to, show you
new line Of blue neckties."
l
want any, but took out Of the case three
really dinky blue neckties and at the
same time brought half a dozen other
colors. Deity he twisted 1t around his
finger sc that I could see what it would
book like. and say. 1t did look real smart
made up like that.
He held 1t little way from him and
said, That's a really smart necktie,
isn't It.? 1t looks like dollar one. yet
it is only half dollar"
NY eye caught a very nice brown tie.
40 I said, Let's have a look at that
one"
| He twisted 1t on his finger for me so
that I could see what 1t looked like.
II think I'll take necktie, but don't
know which I like best | said slowly.
picking UP first one of the blue ones and
the brown one. didn't believe wanted
more than one.
He saw me hesitating and said, Why
not take both while you are about 1t?
You might not be able to get any as
smart as this for some time at such
low price,
Well, l fell for 1t. l bought the pair
of them and then I'm jiggered If he
didn't sell me a ten-cent tie clip! l
went into that store expecting to buy
thirty cents worth and spent $l.4O In
stead.
That fellow was on to MS Job all
right, and II he did kid me on to buy
more than I wanted to l wouldn't mind
going into that store again. He treated
me as II he were glad l had been In
there for as i started to leave he said.
Thank you, sir. I hope we will have
the pleasure of seeing You again"
l came out of that other place feeling
as II I had left my self-respect behind
me. but when I came out of this store,
l lust stuck out my chest and felt as II
| [ was somebody. 1t made me feel
good, and a fellow likes to trade in
store where they make him feel good,