Page:Travel letters from New Zealand, Australia and Africa (1913).djvu/119

 They never let me forget for a moment that I am an American, or that they have caught me at it The dry-goods men here are as big talkers as they are anywhere. In The Post of this afternoon, James Smith, Limited, offers a special sale in summer goods. Here is one price he quotes:  "Ladies' one-piece washing frocks, in various colors, good value at 18s. 6d.; carry your choice away tomorrow at 5s. 11d.

It seems that any sane woman would know that an article now offered at 5s. 11d. (or $1.42) was never good value at 18s. 6d. (or $4.62). If James Smith ever sold an article at $4.62 and has now cut it to $1.42, he is a robber, and no woman should patronize him. Yet his store will be crowded with women tomorrow, and many of them will buy dry goods they do not need, at prices that afford James Smith, Limited, a fair profit. The manner in which smart merchants fool the women with special sales should receive attention at the next meeting of Congress Bob Fitzsimmons, the prize-fighter, came from New Zealand, and I think he is rather more popular at home than Melba is in Australia, where she was born. Indeed, I have heard Melba "picked at" a good deal, while Fitz is generally pointed to with pride.

—A hair-cut and shave at the best shop in Wellington costs twenty-four cents. If a man buys a ticket, and pays in advance, for $1.50 he can get a shave every morning for a month, and one hair-cut On my way to the barber's this