South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-22

Meet me in the woman's dresses'
said the head of the family. "at ?
O'Clock. III be there somewhere"
I do not like to go to the woman's
dresses, which is the name of one
Of the floors in a department store
where men are looked on much as
Germans are looked on in France.
But men must work and women
must shop, and it was necessary for
us to meet at the hour of , in order
to keep a common appointment with
a communication train. Sc. little
rocking what I did, I promised.
I found on applying to a hand
somely dressed man in the door Of
the establishment that the woman's
dresses were on the fourth floor. II
I had been able 10 dip into the fu-
ture ! would have taken the stairs.
But I wasn't. so in the company
with perhaps 16 women 1 routed
myself by the elevator.
In order 10 be as unobtrusivc as
possible l sought the furthest corner
of the car. which was a mistake. We
arrived at the fourth floor without
difficulty. but none of my fellow
passengers appeared 10 want n
women's dresses on that trip. They
stayed where they We're, locking me
fast in my corner.
There was no use 70 be unpleas-
ant about il. 4 stayed where I was
till we got 10 the restaurant-on the
eight floor where there was q gen
eral Decentralization.
"Restaurant,-all out" said the
elevator man.
Il don't want to get out" I said in
the low voice I employe when I want
to hide embarrassment.
Why not?"
Because I want to go to the wom-
ans dresses"
That's on the fourth floor"
81 know it"
The elevator man gave me a
searching look. heaved a long. help
less sigh. and started the car down
once more.
w. ~ r "a E'C1aa ~ 80
all women on the various floors be-
tween US and the women's dresses.
but l manged TO get into a fairly
strategic position. There were only
two women in front Of me when we
reached the fourth floor. But. as I
was presently 10 discover. there were
serried ranks of them behind me.
In False ColOrs.
I tried TO get out quietly and
gracefully, but several wave of
women in my rear we're in a hurry
and I was propelled forward with
such violence that my hand. aimed
TO steady myself on the door casing
came into sudden contact with the
shoulder OF the lady just ahead.
I avoided her eyes as she looked
swiftly back at me, and attempted
"a execute a flank movement and
escape But it was no use. She
overhauled me before I had gone
five steps, and observed in a tense
voice:
Gentlemen. don't prod ladies in
the shoulder"
l moved away. She followed me,
IeIld klIE 10 dA4OAAltL WOLAdA WIZ
was passing
He prodded me in the shoulder"
The other woman adjusted a lorS-
nette and looked me over. There
was nothing for me but fight, so I
mad for a p-rovidentiaIly placed tel
ephone booth and pretended TO put
in a call.
For a few seconds 7 affected 10 be
in earnest conversation then I looked
over my shoulder.
The lady I had colIided with was
there. together with half a dozen
others. The telephone booth was
sound proof, but her lips moved, and
] knew what she was saying. ! re-
turned TO my fake telephone con-
versation.
To my surprise tho company d.s-
solved without calling the police.
After ten minutes Of sunocatioa I
was able 10 escape and sake % my
ques for the head OF the family.
IN those alien areas OF depart
ment stores which are carpeted.
hung with draperies. and peopIed
with women, I never know whether
or not TO take of my hat. i SECS
the thing 10 do out OF Difference 20
the prevalent sex. yet one sees very
fashionable looking men. who seem
thoroughly at home there. sitting or
Etanding with their hats on. This
time I decided 10 do what the die
tates OF courtesy demanded. I re-
moved my hat and twiddled il IN
easily in my hands. as I cast about
for her whom I sought.
Presently I saw several customers
cycling il with d~isfavor. Il was a
hat Of which I am fond. but IL was
neither new nor handsome. l SCI N