New-York tribune., 1918-12-22
SHOPS AND THINGS

tion method of goods as exemplhcd by
the Ovington Shop. in Fifth Avenue.
Here merchandise is ranged on tables
and in cases, according to value as we'll
as artistic effect. On ono table will be
group OF articles of varied sorts
which sell for 81; little farther on
the assortment is labelled SIS, and so
on up to the hghcr-priced wares.
There is no need asking to see
Something for about So" That in
definite idea of what one wants
is Immediately coaxed by series of
tempting displays into more definite
one until it finally takes shape and at
the same time acquires definite value.
The feeling that this kind of selling
may induce the customer to buy the
less expensive merchandise has been
proved to be unsound, for there is
never at any time a suspicion in his
mind that he is being sold the article
of greatest cost and with the varied
assortments of varied prices, he takes
what he likes. even if it costs more
than his "1imit"
LIVERY saleswoman in this city, be
- she ever SO humble, must have
wished at one time or other to be able
to see how her customers would act
in her place. If she would have her
wish come true she has only to adopt
proper shopping manners-of course
she knows them well-and visit "The
Shop" at 5S7 Fifth Avenue, where nu-
merous young ladies of more than aver
age wealth are trying their hands at
craftsmanship in the interest of the Red
Cross.
Perhaps it is not quite fair to draw
comparisons when one learns that
these social register salesgrls work
only half a day. from 10 to 1880 in the
morning, or from 80 to in the after
noon. On the other hand, being volun
teers, they are not paid for their work.
but that means that their lives are not
complicated with the question of wages,
nor do small trifes like making a SAL
ary tit expenses have to be taken into
consideration.
A visit to this interesting mart has
led US to conclude, however, that the
person who made the remark about
sisters under the skin" was not very
far from wrong.
Gong through the Red Cross Shop
is not so very different from going
through any other, unless it be that the
saleswomen are not quite so much at
ones elbow. Courtesy, smiling atten-
tlon and certain professional noise
under the fire of questions-these quail
tiles the young women possess, but
when 1t comes to quiet aggressiveness
IN making a sale they are bit back
ward.
But the first week of business re-
suited in $4,000 profit, which is not so
bad for novices, and at the close of
their SIX months job, even real sales
women may acknowledge them as their
equals.
n SILENT salesman in the cause of
L "A mercy, which accomplishes more
IN one day than could ever be checked
up, is the great Red Cross flag cover
ing the entire store front of the B. Alt
man Company. 1t was this flag which
led Oft the first great drive held by the
Red Cross during the war. Its appear
ance on Fifth Avenue at the beginning
OF that campaign created sensation.
and crowds were constantly gathering
to inspect the huge banner, measuring
10 by lO5 feet. Since then it has been
used several times with the same af-
feet
A companion to this immense han.
ner is the United States flag, almost as
large, which is used in all patriotic
demonstrations. This flag was made bv
hand by Miss Josephine Mulford. of
Madison, N. j. Each star on it's blue
field measures 9 feet 8 inches across
and is embroidered with the name of
the state it represents, as we'll as the
GATE 1t was admitted to the Union. Five
OF the stars were made in the historic
places OF the states which they repre-
sent. The New Jersey star, for ex
ample, was made in Washington's
headquarters at Morristown, and the
Maryland star at Fort McHenry. in
honor of Francis Scott Key's ORIGINAL
"Star-Spangled Banner"
This flag is veteran of the Spanish
American War, at which time it was
made, and is treasured like a historic
document. With the Red Cross flag,
(which has come to stay, along with
the organization it represents" accord
ing to the B. Altman Company, it con-
stitutes valuable relic, and will be
used on special patriotic occasions.
ssEI NIL