EDINBURGH'S EXPERIENCE OF AMERICAN VISITORS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LI, Issue 9138, 10 July 1906, Page 6

EDINBURGH'S EXPERIENCE OF AMERICAN VISITORS.

To the ordinary reader and to the shopbeeping class in particular, the recent instructive article in the Weekly Scotsman on "How to reap a harvest from American visitors," has afforded interest and considerable amusement. The invitation which the Massachusetts Scotsman suggests should be extended to our brethren across the sea, recalls to the mind of the present writer another sign, which was placed in a prominent position in the shop window of a London dealer in furniture and curiosities in the immediate vicinity of Oxford, street : "Notice to Americans. — This shop is not a public museum." The intimation was the fruit of his own experience. English customers refrained from buying at his place of business When they saw him engaged with Americans, who ultimately departed after little or no business being done. This is no uncommon thing with the majority of shopkeepers in the broad thoroughfares of both London and Edinburgh, and also in the provincial towns. As a matter of fact the Yankee invasion during the season is looked upon with dread, dismay, despair and dasgust. While it is true- that many Americans visit these shores, and liberally patronise the prominent warehouses, yet it can well be understood that they do nob I burden themselves with articles which can be readily purchased in their own country without the addition of a prohibitive duty, marely out of consideration for any shopkeeper wno invites them to come in, whether they want to buy or not. MAIXWSNIN G W QUISITI VENESS. Niineby-niuia times out oi a hundred) an American will come in without any invitation and ask needless questions, useless questions, impertinent questions, questions which are oMdi&h and unanswerable, and questions which suggest in the mind of the snopkeeper -some dubiety as to where the much-vaunted wit and 'cuteness of the Yankee comes in; but he travels fox knowledge and information, and guesses and calculates that he "can procure these fixings a deal sight better and cheaper in my country." The shopman's necessity is his opportunity. This is an ordinary illustration of what invariably takes place: — "Tell me what this is?" "This Js a Sheraton cabinet, madam." "Oh, wnat is Sheridan?" "Sheraton was a famous designer of furniture, madam." "And where did .he live?" After various explanations are given, the query as put — "Now, tell me all about OMppendale." The care-worn dealer finally tells her to go to a book store, and procure a history of the subject for herself, feeling that his sphere is not to edu- | cate the, American, . but te sell his goods to bona fid^ .customers. After occupying tue fame and trying the temper and patience of the shopkeeper,, the American will take his departure without the foxmaEty usual in thds country of "Thank you," or "Good morning." Another type of bronzed American on a pricing expedition! will come in to a warehouse, handle the goods displayed on the counter, and frequently soil them with his perspiring hands. He will ask how much this is worth, how much in dollars, what would be the duty and remark, "Waal! that is considerable." He then asks, "Would you invoice it at wuolesale price." If the shopkeeper is an honest man, and says "No," the Tetort is, "I guess I will think about it and call 'again," which he never does. An American's word is not as good as his bond. The writer of the article under review is evidently biassed in favor of American methods of conducting business. Fortunately for the community who reside am I these desperate isles, tnere aire still & few surviving tradespeople who realise, with real ladies and gentlemen, the old-and-tried ways of doing business are. still the most successful, and who do not find it necessary to earn a precarious livelihood by I canvassing for the patronage of American connoiseuirs of sixpenny souvenirs. Th© American visitor who is very well known in Princes street would fain. h&ve> us believe that all Americans are millionaires and have thousands of dollars which they can throw away, if they are in the humor; but enquiry at shops in that thoroughfare has elicited : the information that there is not a more close-fisted class of people on this side of Time than the ! American fifty-dollar tripper. Hotelkeepers have exposed their meanness, jewellers speak of the care they must exercise in watching their trinkets, hatters tell of the final demand for a sixpenny collar and dickey," while drapers state they occasionally "book" a line of goods, which can be smuggled through duty free as wearing apparel — fchds only, however, after the whole warehouse .has been ransacked from top to bottom. Wtihout exception to most shopkeepers the back of the American is, indeed, a welcome cordial. Again, the American tripper, as a rule, Wihiie moving about our cities, assumes an attitude of vast superiority, which is scarcely justified by a closer acquaintance with the individual. On no occasion does he hesitate to criticise. Be overlooks the fact that in his own personality there is great room for criticism and a "tarnation" i deal of space for improvement. The curiosity he exhibits seems only to confirm him in .his belief about the superiority of everything "Amurrican." He apparently forgets that to all intents and purposes he ' is visiting a foreign, country, whose conservative ideas have proved its salvation, and where people are not prepared to sacrifice their manners and customs on the mere off-chance of securing a few of the much-heard-of but seldom fingered "almighty dollar." FITTED TO OUR OWN REQUIREMENTS. Indeed, British shopkeepers have nothing to learn, as far as my experience goes, regarding courtesy and' common civility from the Yankee tourist. Complaint is made by them of the caetiron shopping jpystem, which obtains in Britain. This, however, is adapted to the requirements of socaefey in. this country -which supports and maintains the system, irrespective of the casual American dollar. As against that, we have the American system of many-floored stores, entailing the employment of a very numerous staff of pladnclofbhes detectives, because kleptomania is not an unknown factor. The typical Ya/nkea lady guesses she wants a thing which she knows is already i sold. Britishers art& keenly alive to the I way in which these women "want to | shop," but address themselves to tßie business of purveying what ladies and gentlemen wish, and ought to buy. ,

In all fairness it fails to be admitted that Americans really exist whose manners and methods of shopping leave noth- ' ing to be desired, whose habits and accent I suggest not the slightest difference from ' those of the ordinary English lady or gentleman, and, who, I am assured, are in the habit of shopping in America in much the same way as we do here. The gist of my remarks is directed chiefly at the large and invading force of Ameaicans, who come to "do" these seagirt isles of ours on the coupon system.