--" 4?-'i n.i.'- t f,-t "''S'','J"Vf"i;
t . J
wtm
(7
h
Pages 25 to 32
K.
VOL. XX.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 13, 1901.
NO. 41..
fe
?$UI1Jlfttf
ml iMVlIf
Vi
j?vffiv EJ P5&fT
il2 5Uj 2 ILlSiL-j SJyyln jv3LJ Ji iiilJL1 - VL Vy VJ liXi- li
HE WOBXrD at lartre needs to be
reminded, over and over, that a
department store represents
more than a crowded mart,
where buyers and sellers struggle
together in greea for gain;' that the inen
and women who toll within Its walls are
more than mere puppets and automatons
in the moving show of trade. Nowhere
can one find a more, magnificent theater,
furnished with marvelous stage settings,
amid which actors move, ready to present
the tragedies, romances and comedies of
human existence. It is life with all its
actualities. The, sublime-.(doctrine of the
"brotherhood Of man and sisterhood of
woman" Teaches out and 'covers it, while
ETlrn-visaged experience makes or mars
the man or woman employed beneath Its
roof.
J
We too often forget this, and our for
getfulness may betray us into -words and
deeds "we may not care to remember. Par
ticularly is this true in our dealings with
the girl behind the counter she to whom
we al'ot no such thing as heart, or mind,
or anything approaching personality.
We have heard too much, we have ac
cepted too uhquestlonlngly, the recital of
the woes of the woman before the counter;
we Tiave fairly come to believe that the
obliging, intelligent gentlewoman is arara
ivis in a store. True, she is apt to be
rare when search is confined solely to the
aisles and before the counters.
The question has been too largely dis
cussed from but one point of view; with
complete disregard for fairness, we have
accepted the opinions of My Lady Ag
grieved, as though blame were a one
sided affair. As 1f it did not always "take
two to make an argument!" The delight
ful jibes of the satirist have been sweet
morsels to us. when he has garnished
the glaring faults of the girl clerk. We
have patted the funny man's back when
lie has used his oh-so-keen little hatchet
on the betes noires of shopping the
clerks. We have had our fun, but we
have forgotten that humor and accuracy
ere not always twins.
The Truili Wanted.
The sreat army of salespeople will rls
Tip and call blessed the man or woman
who will dare to tell the unvarnished
truth about their life. Some of their trials
would cost Job his reputation; many of
their temptations would make good St.
Anthony writhe in his grave clothes. They
run the whole gamut of human emotions;
see lift inside out, wrong side out, and
rarely through rose-colored lenses.
The life of the saleswoman cannot "be
scorned as a narrow existence, when it
"brings self-knowledge, as well as knowl
edge of men and women. If you want to
know of what stuff you are made, stand
behinl the counter a few weeks. A young
woman who had spent several months in
a store, after a most sheltered home life,
remarked: "I. never would have appreci
ated my own possibilities for saint or
devil, had I escaped shop life."
Admitting" that there are rude, unoblig
ing, Ignorant clerks, we are not to, forget
that there are precisely such people
among the patrons of the shops. On the
other hand, for the many gentlewomen
who buy goods, there are many equally
as well-bred and dignified women to wait
upon them. And it is with them and
their associates the girls behind tts coun
terthat this article has to do.
To begin at the beginning, saleswomen
are not chosen in a haphazard manner.
It Is reasonable to suppose that every
merchant wants his house to make
money; hence his choice of clerks Involves
many fine points. The days of recommen
dations are not past, and there is endless
red-tape connected with an appointment
to a place behind the counter, as crest
fallen applicants will tell you. That a
girl must have an attractive appearance,
from the standpoint of scrupulous neat
ness, goes without saying; no business
man desires to be represented by a slouch.
Jfor, on the other hand, does a shows',
flasfcy appearance insure favor. The ap
plicant's manner must be pleasing and
courteous, tact and dignity should be In
evidence. Patience and perseverance are
other essential qualities. Aptness to
As III I KHiWK &mm '. WL ? mmv s
- u
learn, order, promptness, honesty, fill
out-the long list of qualifications.
Now we will just suppose that the can
didate appears to meet the requirements,
and that the acute business man, feeling
that she is a good investment, hires her.
Because shop life, to the minutest detail,
is systematized, she finds herself facing
a life of regularity and exactness.
A number is given her which, in the
mechanical workings of the business,
partly absorbs her Individuality. She be
comes, say, "No. 9L" At the bookkeeper's
desk she becomes "SI." as wall as Mica
or Mrs. At the time-keeper's desk she
is known as "91." At the wrapper's desk,
at the shipping desk, and in the mail order
department, she is known simply as "91."
This adoption of a system of numbering
simplifies the work for the employes who
would otherwise have to handle what
would be an endless list of names.
Hernumber appears on the newcomer's
check book, together' with a letter denot
ing the department In which she sells
goods. Every check she makes out must
bear her number and letter, and the
wnonnt of each sale Is carefully recorded
by her In the Index. These books con
tain 50 pages, and care must be taken
that not one goes astray. Of course, on
rush days, when sales are numerous, she
may have a second and even a third new
book, but each of the old ones is put
aside carefully, to be turned in at night,
at the time desk. Before this Is done the'
clerk must add up the amounts of her
sales and. put the total in the proper
space. In doing this she has an oppor
tunity to, see how much money she has
made for the house, or, more correctly
soeaklne:. to ascertain the aeeresate value
of her sales. In the morning1 she Is given
a new book, while book No. 1 is in the
auditor's hands.
The new saleswoman is also given a key,
bearing her number. The key fits that
modern wonder that mechanical record
ing wizard, the "Bundy clock." Rewards
are still being offered to the .person who
can cheat the Bundy. "When the girl enters
the store In the morning, she rings in
her time and hangs the key on its own
hook, at the side of the clock, bearing
the word "In." Her wraps are put in a
locker' and she repairs at once to her
"counter. No loitering In the aisles or at
other counters for a morning gossip. The
covers which were spread the previous
night to protect display goods from dust,
must be removed, neatly folded and put
away. Then commences the work of put
ting stock In order, and our green girl
must utilize the opportunity to acquaint
herself with the goods she Is to handle.
No easy task, to be sure, and one goes
cold with dread when questioned by the
managers.
Boxes and shelves must be dusted and
woo to her whose housewifely Instinct
does not provide her with a clean duster
and the wiU to remove the least trace ,
of last night's sweeping.
When the boxes are dusted, empty ones
must be refilled from the reserve stock
In the basement. This contingency is
provided for by the girl making out a
list of the goods, sold each day, and turn
ing It over promptly to the manager ,or
other person whose work It is to attend
to the bringing up of fresh supplies.
When all this has been done, the new
saleswoman Is ready to commence selling
goods. Chances are that she finds sev
eral "I am In a hurry" women lined
up at her counter, waiting for her when
she arrives there. This hinders the pro
cess of dusting and affords a serious test
of patience.
It Is a wonder that more shopwomen do
not suffer from dyspepsia, when one con
siders their rapid-transit method of dis
posing of breakfast, in order that the
store maybe reached by the time the doors
open at-8 o'clock. The newspapers and
bargain sale allurements must bear part
of the blame for this.
If the girl is the right sort, and, after
all, only the right sort are retained in a
Arm's employ, after a thorough trial
she Ignores her Interrupted dusting and
sells goods with the avidity of one who
knows that "sales count up In the office."
It can't be helped if the first woman on
whom she must wait has passed a sleep
less night with a fretful baby, or has her
nerves put on edge by the struggle to
loosen up the family purse-strings, or la
just hopelessly and naturally disagreea
bleshe must be smiled upon and hu
mored, and be made to feel that the
store was built and the business Inaug
urated for her especial benefit. Goods
must be shown with tireless energy, and
if the opportunity comes to help the poor,
distracted buyer with a timely hint In
the right direction, it must be given in a
quiet, respectful manner.
It is truly amusing: to note how little
Individuality the woman before the coun
ter seems to' think the other one possesses.
If, at the supreme moment of despair, the
purchaser comes in contact' with it,
through the generous forebearance of the
saleswoman, my lady is resentful, or, at
the least, greatly surprised.
As the morning passes, they come
crowding in all types and conditions.
Here is Mrs. "Won't I Impress You?"
bustling up to see If you are carrying a
certain line of goods her "friend from
New YorTtf has been describing. If it
happens, as It usually does, that the
house has been selling the good woman
that Identical thing for years, she Is sure
oh, so sure! that "it can't be the same
thing," and then she declares that she
Is going to one of the other stores to tor
ment some other clerk, no doubt.
The saleswoman hurries to put away
the many boxes pulled down to prove that
Smartness & Co. carried the goods
wanted. She sighs at the loss of time and
labor, and wonders If but here comes
Mrs. "Not-Sure-What-I-Want." By dint
of questioning that would do credit to a
criminal . lawyer, the girl maybe learns
that something ia wanted in shirts "for
little Freddie."
Very well, the season is too early for an
all-cotton garment, so "Perhaps you want
a mixture of wool and cotton?" "Yes;
that's it. Part" wool and part cotton,
and be sure they won't shrink! The last
ones shrunk out of all remembrance the
first trip to the tub."
Then begins the displaying of shirts
gray and white, for the dear creature
does not know which color she wants,
though, since putting off his baby gar
ments, Freddie has never worn anything
but gray. Every grade of wool and cot
ton, every make, every price, together
with the new-fangled "fleeced cotton,
quite as warm as wool," is spread out
before Mrs. N-S-W-I-W.
The tension Increases and the fond
mother fairly wrings her hands In despair.
Why do little boys distract loving moth
ers with the choice of shirts? Why wear
shirts? Why have little boys at all? This
last wicked "why" echoes In the heart
of that disheartened shop woman.
Then the miserable would-be purchaser
Is seized with a happy inspiration. Sno
won't buy the shirts; "Those Freddy has
are worn thin enough to do until" until
Freddie will need only swimming trunks,
or an old garment of his sl3ter's.
What a relief her decision is to madamct
Once more life is worth living, and she
leaves the counter proud of her foresight
and economy.
And the girl well, being the right sort.,
she folds and puts away the rejectea
shirts, meanwhile wondering why that
tiresome woman had to trail down town,
waste her own time and that of the store,
merely to decide that, after all, she did
not want to buy shlrta for Freddie.
Not Used to Shopping;.
Her trend of thought is broken. Mrs.
"Not-Used-To-Shopping" settles, with a
perceptible air of apology, on one of those
"children's delights," the revolving stool.
She has been attracted by some low-neck,
sleeveless vests, designed for children.
"Have you dese In bigger size?" The ac
cent Is German. "Oh, yes. Indeed: For
what age, please?"
Horrors' she Is blushing and turning
uneasily on the stool.
Once more the smiling query, In an en
couraging tone, "For what age did you
say?" Something between a groan and a
gurgle escapes from the lips of the would
be purchaser. The girl wonders If she is
demented. Then it dawns on her the
woman wants the garments for herself.
"Oh, did you want them for yourself?"
Is asked. "Yaas," returns the much-relieved
patron, who had feared she would
have to tell her age. Then the proper
counter is pointed out or the woman
turned over to the gracious floorwalker,
and the girl behind the counter has her
laugh the first one, perhaps the only one
that day but It Is relished.
So time passes until lunch hour arrives.
The new girl must now remember that
key and the Bundy or a fine will be reg
istered against her, and fines make an
ugly hole in one's monthly stipend. Her
.lInie I3 rung "out," and the key put on
the proper hook. If she does not go
home to lunch or to some of the near-by
eating-houses, she finds a cosy lunchroom,
somewhere about the store where she may
eat, chat with a friend or read. In the
large Eastern department stores lunch
counters, where delicious hot drinks, sal
ads, sandwiches and cold meats are
served, obviate difficulties for both custo
mers and clerks. They are a blessing,
and one which shops in the Coast cities
may be expected presently to adopt.
Lunch disposed of the girl Is ready to
return to her counter. The forenoon
siege did not exhaust the supply of types
of buyers, nor does the girl console her
self with the thought that her trials ended,
with the morning trade. With an apology
to slang, "there are others." It I3 won
derful what a variety of cheerful idiots
this old world contains.
Even masculinity contributes its share
to the great army. Yet, taking It all In
all. the shop girl would rather sell goods
to a man than to a woman. Men are less
self-assertive, much less given to patron
izingknowing doubtless how little they
really do know compared with a wqman
and they possess a more kindly feeling
toward the woman broad-earner. A little
of the wholesome free-masonry which
pervades man's Intercourse with man Is
evinced in his dealings with the girl be
hind the counter. Perhaps it Is because
men are less caddish than women are
snobbish, when the truth is out.
The woman who is a full-fledged shop
perwho is known as such in every store
deserves a fa? more ruthless fate than
ever befalls her. What part of the econ-
(Concluded on Page Thirty.)