Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1880 — On Shop Windows. [ARTICLE]

On Shop Windows.

An old song has it, “My faco is my fortune, sir, she said” —and what the face ii> to the person, the show-window is to the merchant. We look at the stranger’s face, and from it obtain some conception of his character and habits; so a casual glunce nt a display of goods on exhibition in window or case, betrays either artistic arrangement and jierception of effects on the part of the proprietor, or carelessness and poor taste. We judge, if the window is well filled with taking goods, that a similar quality will be found inside, and are attracted ; while on the contrary, neglect at once renels custom. How often should a window be changed? is a question that at once arises. No set rule can lie given : but, notice this: arrange your goods with an eye to showing as full a line as vou have, not placed at righ'v angles with each other as though they were bricks, and must be placed just so—bear in mind the haimony of colors, then note the effect on passersby. An habitual wayfarer is rusliing past, intent on business —some article catches his eye —hi’s attention is arrested, and your first object is gained, for the fancy must be taken previous to the sale, as surejy as fishing precedes catching; and to repeat the bld adage “a thing that pleases, is half sold.” Notice, now, as the days pass by, your same man; he glances at the window, sees nothing new, and passes on. How to arrange a window is more difficult to suggest without a knowledge of window and goods, but one or two things surely should be observed,. Guard against placing all your goods on a level. Nothing tends to displease the eye so much. Look nt a barren stretch of marsh —it is monotonous in the extreme, but, of the mountains one never tires. For the same reason, though differing in degree, aim to have your window elevated in some parts, not necessarily a pyramid, but using taller goods for a background, and so avoid the distressing flatness; again, avoid multiplying varieties in your display. Experience shows that a few goods of a kind arranged with apparent carelessness, but really with consummate art, left in for a few days, and then replaced by some other line, tend to convey the impression Of an immense variety. Leading fancy goods houses in our large cities are adopting this method —imported, as it is in fact, from Paris and Vienna, and the Parisian window displays are of world-wide celebrity. A thousand and one things occur to each man in dressinghis window, and no fear need be felt of having a similarity with other houses. The difference in location, shape and size of window must of course rule somewhat in determining the display, but bear in mind that but for her face the beggar-maid would not have become Mrs. Queen Cophetua, and without an attractive window customers will have an unpleasant likeness to angels’ visits. /<■