Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/121

Rh impose upon the credulity of strangers, and treat them with incivility and even rudeness, when these decline to purchase their trumpery. "You did not want to buy," said one of these fellows to a well-dressed gentleman lately; "here have you pulled about my books, and asked the price of four or five, but don't know one that you want. No; you don't want to buy," said he with a sneer, insinuating that he was likely to steal!

At various points, ready made CLOTHES SHOPS employ Barkers at the door, who pace up and down before the window, and almost forcibly hand you into the shop; where you are set upon by two or three, who will get a garment upon you whether you are willing or no, demanding twice its real value, and if you are a flat, you cannot get out of it with the gentle use of words. Abuse follows you, if you do not purchase; you are robbed if you do.

In what respect are such scum of tradesmen better than the well-defined villain, who being one of the

runs off with the very garment you have bought.

If you carry the bundle yourself, one of these will run against you, or shuffle you along from