Volume II Part 16 (1/2)

”I should think people could use any thing they wanted for furniture,” I remarked, somewhat sharply.

”They can, but they don't,” he said quite calmly. ”They don't use red like that. They use Turkey-red.”

I said no more, but left. The next place I visited was a very large dry-goods store. Of the first salesman I saw I inquired if they kept red calico like my sample.

”You'll find that on the second story,” said he.

I went up-stairs. There I asked a man:

”Where will I find red calico?”

”In the far room to the left. Right over there.” And he pointed to a distant corner.

I walked through the crowds of purchasers and salespeople, and around the counters and tables filled with goods, to the far room to the left.

When I got there I asked for red calico.

”The second counter down this side,” said the man.

I went there and produced my sample. ”Calicoes down-stairs,” said the man.

”They told me they were up here,” I said.

”Not these plain goods. You'll find 'em down-stairs at the back of the store, over on that side.”

I went down-stairs to the back of the store.

”Where will I find red calico like this?” I asked.

”Next counter but one,” said the man addressed, walking with me in the direction pointed out.

”Dunn, show red calicoes.”

Mr. Dunn took my sample and looked at it.

”We haven't this shade in that quality of goods,” he said.

”Well, have you it in any quality of goods?” I asked.

”Yes; we've got it finer.” And he took down a piece of calico, and unrolled a yard or two of it on the counter.

”That's not this shade,” I said.

”No,” said he. ”The goods is finer and the color's better.”

”I want it to match this,” I said.

”I thought you weren't particular about the match,” said the salesman.

”You said you didn't care for the quality of the goods, and you know you can't match goods without you take into consideration quality and color both. If you want that quality of goods in red, you ought to get Turkey-red.”

I did not think it necessary to answer this remark, but said: