The Hickman courier., 1871-02-25
The TaIe of a Dry-Goods clerk

Herald Interview. !

tnat time nave held situations In most
of the large houses in New York. /
went into business, 10 a small way. once
for myself. but failed, and was obliged
to go behind the counter again to sup
port my family.
Reporters il difficult to get stu
alton in one of these houses?
Clerk-Well, that depends. In some
of them you can go straight to the mana
ger, and, taking off your hat, make ap
plication. In others, however, one has
to go to Mr. Somebody; then, hat in hand
aud bending low until your body forms
the proper curve of deep humility, you
beg that he would introduce you to Mr.
Somebodyelse, aud this last one may or
may not think it worth his while to men ,
ton ysu- Sosyou have 60 take your
chance.
Reporter-But once you get in of
course you are all right?
Clerk-Not exactly. First, you are
given the
RULES OF THE ESTABLISHMENT
to read, which consist mostly of the Of
fences for which you are liable to be
| fined. Then you receive book to enter
the amount of every sale made during
the day; and you must look pretty sharp
/ that no one else sells any more than
you do.
Reporter-Why, this must keep up
constant warfare among the men?
Clerk-It does, and it is the cause of
numerous complaints of inattention aud
rudeuess to customers.
Reporter-How so?
Clerk-Well, you see, man is called
forward, that is desired, by
THE SHOP WALKER
to come and wait upon lady. She may
not be quick enough at buying to suit
him, so he tries to get rid of her as quick
ly as possible, that he may get another
likely to purchase.
Reporfer-The shop walkers then have
control over the men ?
Clerk-They have; and most brutality
they use it sometimes, shouting at you
shows the smallest trace of resentment
they threaten to report you, and that Is
iustabt dismissal These fellows are
worse than any slave driver America has
ever known.
Reporter-SureIy they would give
man of family some notice before dis
charging him2 ~
Clerk-Not an instant You may be
twenty years in the employ of one of
those large houses and ue discharged at
a moments notice for some trivial offense
Time and health they grind out of you,
aud while they are making millions you
get mere subsistence
Reporter-What are the usual wages
paid to clerks
Clerk--They range all the way from
five dollars a week to twenty. In some
houses they have besides the salary, pre-
miums, or, as we call them, "P Ms
Reporter-May l ask you what they
are ?"
Clerk They are kind of bonus given
to the salesman for getting rid Of old
goods and remnants.
Reporter-The general impression is
that remnants and old goods are sold at
reduced prices
Clerk know it is; but it is a wrong
impression. Remnants sometimes bring a
HIGHER PRICE AS REMNANTS
than they do in the piece.
Reporter-But why?
CIerk-Because women are such fools,
and the statesmen push them to make the
"P. NJ"
Reporter-Do all the stores in New
York give these "P. Ms" as you call
them
Clerk-All but one; and in some Of
the houses man gets one third of all he
can overcharge customer during the
day.
Reporter-The goods are generally
marked; then how can he overcharge?
Clerk-The goods are marked, true
enough; but if lady comes in to buy
shawl, for instance, it may be marke ed
ten dollars. But if the clerk sees she
likes it very much, and is determined to
have it. he may charge her sixteen for it.
He then gets two for himself
Reporter-Don't you think this looks
like swiudling?
Clerk-Most certainly / do But if
you happen to get into one of these
houses, and you don't do that sort OF
thing occasionally to show your clever
ness and interest in your EN- ployers bust
ness, you'll find Saturday night come
when they'll tell you they don't wanr
you. IT you ask why. you are answered:
We'll, you don't suit our trade"
Reporter-This is a frightful state OF
things.
Clerk have knswn instances to oc
cur-they are not common to be sure.
but have seen great many of them il
the course of my xperieDee-where u
a lady was shown an article at price;
,he didn't think it good enough, aud, be
ing the best In stock. the clerk would
produce it again and again until he had
reached the price the customer intended
to pay for what she wanted.
Reporter-And this with the knowl
edge of the firm !?
Clerk-Most assuredly That is one
of the
TRICKS OF THE TRADE.
Reporter-But are ladies' so easily
taken in as that /?
Clerk-Lord bless you they are the
softest things in the world. After a
pretty general experience of them for
forty years / tell you if you can get
wou.an's attention you can make her be
lieve anything
Reporter-You don't seem to have a
very high opinion of the sex.
Clerk-On the contrary admire them
very much, and nothing would please |
me better than to see some of the poor,
friendless things who are struggling for
an existence in this city get the places
Of those lazy louts who ought to be out
doing mans work under Gods sky.
Reporter-You think, then, this is a
field Of labor that ought to be opened up
to women?