New-York tribune., 1918-01-13
A Bright Spot
Amid the Ruins

1t is to rouse to life again the peas
ants normal interest in buying and
selling, and not for the sake Of profit,
that we prefer to supply their needs as
far as possible in this way. All about
us are the ruins of prosperous farms,
ranging from the really>imposnge estab-
lishments of the large cultivators who
titled the wheat lands to the small but
comfortable homes Of truck gardeners
of whom there were many. Such was
the commercial Importance of the re-
gion before the war that it was tapped
not only by main line railroad but by
a narrow gauge road and government
owned canals. One still sees in barns
and sheds the huge market baskets
with which, to the number sometime IS
of hundred, the farmers took the
PGronne.
70 give these people taste of their
old life we hold to be of as much i'm
portance as giving them material re-
lief. We sell our goods at from one
half to onc-third their cost, and our
customers, who know a bargain, are
quick to respond.
This is amusingly evident when the
store, transformed to a pedler's cart
takes the road. One would not think
that the ruined villages contained so
many inhabitants as swarm into the
street at the first sound of the horn.
There is scarcely time to let down
the tailboard and open the hampers
before the storekeepers are swamped
with customers. Grandmothers with
kerchiefed heads. younger women, bare
headed, children and bluecoated SOL
ders crowd up en- all sides.
"How much is this?" demands a
would be buyer, holding up frying-pan
The storckeeper examines the price
mark. and names half that figure. Fry
ing-pan in hand, the customer retreats
to her home to get "the change "Make
note of her." calls the storekeeper in
the rear to her colleague, and turns he,
attention to broadside of questions
"Have you any sabots ?" "How much
is this scarf?" ~ want a bar OF
s0ron Mo,seiUes." "Please bring me
a kettle next week, a large kettle, like
that Nine. Barber bought last week"
Soldiers and children chime in with
neighborly advice and laughter, till one
wonders how the storekecpers can keep
the store amid this din.
Buyers Interested
In the Styles
Meantime the lady who bore off the
frying-pan has returned, and proffer.
Z, hundred frame note in payment. 1t is
the turn of the storekeeper in front
to call for help. "Any change?" she
demands. waving the note franticall,
to attract attention. And, strange as i
may appear, the change is forthc oming e
But the transaction is not yet com
pleted. "Your name, madame" ?" Dowl
1T goes, with the name of the article
and the amount paid. or the card which
will later be consulted by the socia
service worker who has charge of tha
village.
II can be seen that there is plent,
of work involved in keeping our store
Not only are there records and &C
counts; there is the restocking which
involves orders on our buyers in Paris
or long trips to the nearest larg,
towns. There is delay also in receiv
ing these consignments, dependent fol
transit TO Us on the movement O
trOops-for we are in the war zone-o,
on the weekly delivery of army cam
ions.
There is uncertainty. too, on tn,
part Of the buyers as to what are tn,
prevailing styles. Be the mud neve1
so deep, sabots of wood are not worr
Eere. at is our habit" the wome,
explain, shaking their heads. st,
wear the sabots with leather tops"
On the other hand, our clientele ha
truly French taste for novelties.
DO not know how many times we hav,
been asked if we would not sell ou
uniforms, our sweaters and ou
! shoes. The unit hats also we have ha
a chance to dispose of, one of ou
hamlcts having sent a delegation t,
negotiate the purchase. Much as w
would have liked to be rid of thes
oDJects--to our minds most unbecom
lng-wc refused, meeting the reoues
hty buying real velvet hats for then
in Paris instead
The Duchess
a