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THE CHISNEY CORNER.
meet oe
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ay
A Charming Gift-Plate,
“YOU SWEET LITTLE DARLING,”
One of the most attractive Engravings ever pre-
sented with any paper,
Will Accompany No. 439,
Ir WILL APPEAL TO ALL,
Jn that number will begin
THE STORY OF A BIRTH,
. A NOVEL,
BY
Etta w.
Acrnoor or “Tne Binto Mars,” Etc. Erc.,
A highly wrought Novel, full of dramatic power
aud those delineations of character which show a
deep insight into the human heart and its work-
ings, It is a novel that will enchain the reader
Srom the very first line.
We are also putlishing in the CHIMNEY
CORNER two other Serial Novels, of more than
ordinary ability:
HOW THREE KEPT A SECRET,
By raz Action or “ Tae Mouse witn ax L;”
and
THE WITCH HUNTER;
A. Brother’s Revenge.
Pierce,
THE CHIMNEY CORNER is the only paper
Of its kind in America—the only one that gives
weekly the entertaining, tnetriictive matter that
will suit all members of a family, embracing
Serial Nove'a, Complite Stories, Adventures,
Travels, Biography, Science, Natural History,
Anecdotes, ete,
me
THE CHIMNEY CORNER ia iequed every
Monday, and can be had at all news depots, price
en cents.
Terms, $4 a year, $1 for three months, Six
- copies for one year, $20. All subscriptions should
be addressed, plainly, “Frank Leslie, 83% Peart
‘Street, New Fork.”
eee
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 138, 1873.
I ened
Customers,
ALTHOUGH we are accustomed to hear com-
plaints, in this jostling, struggling world of
oars, of weaker persons who go to the wall, it
is not to be denied that if they cry out pretty
loudly they will receive an immediate share of
public attention, and if found to be much or
unduly squeezed, we are justified by preceJent
in assuming that sympatby and assistance wil
also be given them. Very many classes of
society, when found to be suffering under the
obtaining it, He, therefore, institutes a little
search on his own account throughout the
shop, naturally inflicting annoyance on the
fecings of the dealer,
We will suppose the obstinate customer
eaten a druggist's, and asks fora pair of wash-
nee! gloves. He is told that ‘we do not keep
“ «Don't keep them?” he exclaims, gazing
keenly around the shop; ‘dear me, that’s very
awkward ! - What is that pile of things on the
shelf just above your head there ?”
Ie is told that they are chest-protectors.
“Oh, indeed ! Chest-protecters, on! ? They
wouldn't do, then—they—wouldn't—do.”
This is said slowly, as the oneakers eye
sently he says again, probably pointing rudely
and officiously with his umbrella:
“Isn't that pile cf things there with the red
borders to them washing-gloves? Ithiuk they
must be!”
They ar accordingly taken down, and shown
to be something quite different to washing-
gloves, A glimmer of intelligence will then,
perhaps, shine upon him, and he will say:
“Well, if you haven" t got them, I can't have
them—can 1?”
And then, casting euspicious glances around
him, he leaves the shop slowly, and the apo-
thecary may think himself fortunate if some-
thing in the window does not attract his notice,
aud bring him back again.
A customer much to be avoided is the indis-
creet customer. He orders readily, and speed-
ily finds what he wants. But he never thinks
about price, and generally never inquires until
his parcel of goods is packed up. Jt most fre~
quently happens that the price is three or four
times what he expected, or can afford, and an
awkward dilemma is the result. It generally
ends in the parcel being opened, and goods
extracted until the amount is reduced to within
the reach of the indiscreet customer's pocket.
This customer is the more annoying, as the
mode of dealing with him is so difficult. IE it
be attempted to discern the probable worth of
the individual by his dress and appearance,
there is the utmost danger of confounding him
with the unknown customer, who is at once
the horror and delight of shopkeepers. We
will narrate a fact we came across to illustrate
this.
A shabby old gentleman walked into a jewel-
er’s in London, and asked to be allowed to
look at some topazes. - Three or four were
accordingly shown to. him, and he quickly
selected the best, which he said was hardly
good enough.
“Ah, but you see these stones are expen-
sive,” said the jeweler, 2 rather patronizingly.
**I can assure you the you a have chosen
would answer avy ordinary purp:
old gentleman Tooked around, bim in a
dissatisfied way, and presently caught sight of
a large and beautiful stone in a corner of the
jeweler’s glass case.
“That looks more like what I want,” said
he; ‘let me look at that one, will you?”
“ It will be very expensive, sir; very, indeed
—more, I dare say, than you would like
1| give. The stone you have is very good, sir.”
In a quiet voice, the old gentleman asked if
the stone was for sale or only on view. At this
burden and heavy pressure of a yoke to which
they once voluntarily submitted themselves,
have been relieved by the charitable interfer-
ence of public opinion.
found to be suffering from the infliction of too
much work for too little money, which we call
a grievance of condition; but there are other
grievances, which, for distinction’s sake, we
will call grievances of the feelings, suffered by
those whose calling brings them into constant
and actual contact with the public, which
require for their alleviation not the active in-
terference, but only the attention and consider-
ation of society.
One would naturally suppose that every
person who enters a store is aware of what he
requires. Our experience, however, shows
> that dealers and clerks recognize two classes of
customers—thcse who know what they want,
and those who do not. In the first is to be
found that customer who is so rare and so per-
foct, that we will call him the ideal customer.
He exisis as a sort of fond dream in the mind
of the dealer sometimes, but all too seldom,
These are generally | 54
rebuke the jeweler produced it, naming a high
price. It was immediately chosen; and his
customer, taking a sketch from his pocket,
“Get that coat-of-arms engraved upon it,
and send me word when it’s done,”
ave his name and address. He was
noble earl; and the jeweler had committed the
grievous error of treating him as an n indisereet,
when he was an unknown custom
One of the most remarkable specimens is the
communicative customer. This
appears, will, with the slightest encourage-
ment (and sometimes without), converse freely
about his personal and private affairs over a
counter, to an individual he has never seen
before in his life. A gentleman of this class,
on the simple introduction occasioned by the
purchase of half a pound of figs, told the ‘ler
that he should have been in the grocery trade
himself if he had stopped down in the country,
where he was born; but that be always had a
fancy to come to the city; so he ran away, and
2
E
realized. ows what he wants, and he
knows the prices he asks for it, pays for it,
and takes it away. eaven prosper him on
his wayt He is a model-to all customers,
Now, if the dealer did not possess the article
required by the ideal customer, he would
inform him so, and the customer would leave
the shop. In this respect, and in this only, he
_ differs from the obstinate customer, who,
altaough quite as clear on his requirements,
«gives far more trouble. For he is no sooner
informed that the article he wishes ia not kept,
he 3
ape Y
than he betrays a belicf that itis, and that only
7
“ OT wasn't worth much when I first arrived,”
said the communicative customer; ‘ but I’m
worth a few thousands now. I bought a house
yesterday, that cost me over twenty thousand
dollars; and I’m going to furnish it, and let it
furnished. Inever could get on with unfar-
nished houses. One of my tenants,” etc., etc.
Another instance was a man who, within five
minutes of ‘entering, informed he dealer where
he was going to dine, what he was going to
have, and what his balance was in bank
Of course, the most troublasome of all cus-
tomers ere ts be fannd amonzst those who do
wv
wanders searchingly around the shop. Pre-| again:
person, it]
laziness or lack of understanding prevents hi his | not know what they want. Foremost awong
these are ladies. The difficulty these fair crea-
tures have in making up their mind is only
eqnated t by the difficulty the dealer experiences
in making it up for them. . They are impressed
with the idea that the task of buying must be
not suitable. rience of a clerk in a
fancy shop was interesting on this point.
If a lady and her husband are about to pur-
“ That’ ‘8 pretty, dear—isn’t it?” she will say.
“Yes, very. Suppose you have that?”
The fair one shrinks from the conclusion.
She searches further.
gain:
“There! I think I really like that the best
any!”
Her husband observes, not upreasonably:
« Well, then, my dear, you'd better have
that one.”
And we are assured that the lady will then
invariably put it on one side, and look over the
others again.
All experience shows that the dealer should
avoid being partic as to the manner or
most of us met with people who annoyed us by
a peculiarity of some sort in manner or con-
yersation. This, no doubt, arises from a little
fastidiousness on our part; yet, we do occa-
sionally allow our feelings a little liberty in
this respect. But it is an exceedingly ill-
advised thing for a dealer to do, especially (as
is most often the case) with habitual customers.
with an amiable bookseller, who suf-
a
o
mencing at the door to speak in the highest
falsetto, would end when he arrived at the
counter in the deepest bass.
formant, angrily; and although we pointed out
oe it was but a fivial fault, for which the
ft, perhaps, altogether re-
Sponcible, the bookseller
be unable much longer to restrain his indig-
nation!
A young man behind a counter complained
of a customer who annoyed him by saying,
“Err—yes—um!” in a nasal tone, at every
available opportunity in conversation, The
clerk al full " d hi
so as to avoid, if possible, the exclamation,
and failing this, he adopted the plan of serving
him in dead silence,
We could speak of the harmonic customer,
who whistles or hums a tune the whole of the
time he is in the shop, when not speaking, and
the indistinct customer, who twice asks for
« Orlypobbleggletokens,” and, in despair, is at
last told that he may, perhaps, get them a
little lower down on the same side of the way;
of the precise customer, who will not have his
parcel sealed with wax, because the wax gets
under his finger-nail when he opens it; and of
to|many, many more, But for want of space we
must stop, content if we have reminded the
public that if everybody is entitled to consid-
eration from the shopman, the shopman may
look for a little consideration from everybody.
Che Self-made Men of our Cimes.
William Alvord,
San Francisco, Californie.
Wittra Atyorp, ost: promine!
business men of 8:
early in the seventeenth reentry vand iro!
gre descended the Alvord Kew York, New
England, a
cademy, under the care of Doctor Beck,
taking the prize medals as the best sebolar in
mathematics an natural philosophy. is taste
mathematics has always been cultivated, and
seem a distinguis bing family trait,
uncle, Geral Benjamin aymaster-Gen-
eral of the United States Ares, is noted as a
mathematician of rare abilit;
anes
bany Academy with an annual gold medal, known
as the (Alvord Medal, ”
ciency in penmanship,
Upon leaving the academy, at the age of seven-
teen, he entered a New York hardware house. He
showed much capubility for business, «
tue position of chief clerk. In 1853 his failing
‘led in Marysville. - Here the firm of Alvord
& iithiland was established. in the hare
from 1853*to 1356. During the
Ivord remove to San
wey
an
Alvord & Co., wholesale importers
hardware, with a branch in New
“=
performed slowly; and if an article is found | }
speedily, that is primd facie evidence that it is q
chase, the lady, of course, performs the selec- | °°
tion.
Presently she exclaims | in;
w
mode of speaking, in customers. We have | Wit!
“Right down in his boots!” said our in- Amon!
an Francisco, “Calivorn ia and at |in
t
ac 1850 wi ‘liane. “Alvord was graduat ted at the
in Ale | whi
al
je years since Mr. ‘sleord endowed the Al-
for the greatest profi- sf
Cc
health compelled his removal to Californie, where | of
v v
Nis health again became impaired several years
later, when h out his interest to his partner,
the firm ‘thereafter, and still being known as
Kichard Patrick & Co, Subsequently Mr. Alvord
traveled extensively in Europe, returning greatly
improved in health.
lle now became dentified with the ren manu-
facturing interests of 1866 the
acitic Roll ‘ing Mill Com en with Mn Alvord as
dent, was organized in San Francisco, Mr.
vord purchased in the Eastern States the ma:
chinery for the company, und the business was
it in successful operation. This establisliment
1s the only one of the kind on the Pucilie coast,
‘ost half ‘a million of dollars, and gives employ=
e monthly
galifornia Pacific, the Cei
Northern Pacitic, as well a
extend-
y iron.
motive s, and interested in a number of
other business enterprises.
He is an hovorary and life member of a large
er of associations and societies organized
for usefal purposes. Among these are various
religious, literar, nevolent institutions.
He ‘has
to 3 during bi
tour abroad, After his return he a ‘instrumental,
Design, and a
the antique have been donated to it by the French
Government.
Alter many unsuccessful efforts to oblain Mr.
Aivord’s namie for the Republican and Peop'e’s
Reform tickets, he at length, in 1871, allowed
bimself to be presented as a candidate for the
oflice of Mayor of San Francisco, to whic!
was duly electes
. Alvord has displayed in the peeuliarly
ind responsible dutics of his ollice
proortiude and clearness of judgment which
have t the fullest aoe a alike ot his
personal friends and the He has secured
ests, and for firmness in the discharge ot his duty,
g his more impértan: oficial acts were his
vetoes of the subsigies en ante d by the Board of
Supervisors to the Southern Pacific and the Colo-
city Ia nds, to the
amount of twelve and a half millions, to the rail-
roads named, caused great qeeussicn and excite-
of Mayor
admitted to the
people, by a vote of fitteon thousand against to
one hundred and forty-five in tavor, out ofa total
of twenty-three thousand votes cast, a large
meeting held ‘on the night following the * nba
tion of t sage he was tendered the
People’s Nomination for Con-
gress, but this he decltoed in a card.
In 1p, Mr. Alvord is erect and commanding.
His bead t is of large size, with a broad, handsome
The features are prominent and expressi ‘ive,
ni is readily to be seen that all the intellectual and
moral qualities are strongly develo
Accomplished, thorough and ehterpisiog as
0 much to that
| sincere, Adorned
ve and efficient efforts in many
ent spheres entitle him to be regarded as both an
ornament of society anda benelactor of the com-
munity in which be resides,
Anecdote of Crockett.
Is his day no man was more famous
nals of American politics than David Crockett,
the eccentric Congre:
gut of of the borders and gain the independence of
ex:
“Colon nel John Forbes, formerly of Obio, but now
was the first “ alcalde””
recruits referred to; but when
portion of the oath which contained the promised
MMewiance “to the republic of Texas, or any other
45° ar, o be uble to
‘the first timi sentiment uttered
y David Crockett on bis entrance in the Army
Texas,” that does honor to bis patriotism, and
should be cherished and prized by every’ true
‘dware busi- | Aj
+.
-
Exeuses.—Let others apologize for us; if we
can find an excuse for our conduct, we might,
ave found a way to act diflerently,
Sie
cays
Ser