University of Virginia Library

No Dime

I found Mr. Bardenwerper's
comment on Tuesday (CD, April
27) especially interesting because of
a contrary attitude taken by the
staff of Anderson Brothers'
bookstore when I asked (begged?) to
borrow a dime.

It was a very hot afternoon early
this month, when I had left my
pocketbook in Student Health
while I scurried to get a Coke for
my Doctor and me. The nearest
can-or-bottle-dispensing machine is
that located on the sidewalk near
Anderson Brothers'. The Cokes
were 20cents instead of 15cents as I
had anticipated. And, since I have
been here three years and traded
regularly at Anderson Bros., I felt
no qualms about going in and
asking to borrow a dime.

I was a familiar face to the
salesman and manager to whom I
made my request. (The salesman
claimed to have only 8 cents in his
pocket and promptly sent me to
the manager. The manager hemmed
and hawed, and finally said that
they just "had no policy on
loans".) I was furious, to say the
least. I had even explained where
my pocketbook was, that I could
return within the hour, that I
would be willing to sign a written
pledge as a U.Va. student to return
the 10cents, etc.

Needless to say, I got quite a
different response than did Mr.
Bardenwerper when he requested a
quarter from a stranger behind him
in the movie line. It certainly seems
very strange that people who
should be concerned with public
relations would respond as they did
to me. Or are they concerned? I do
not plan to return to find out.