The New York herald., 1871-02-05
BEHIND THE COUNTER
Mysteries and MiSeries of the
Palaces Of Fashion.
Tricks Of the Trade-The Caucasian Slave and
his Driver-The Secrets Of Shopping
How Women Are Humbugged-
Remnants and Cid Stock.

s'what can have the pleasure OF doing FOR you
Grw
81 want pair OF warm gloves"
''Cloh-any particular sze?"
'No, want them to III pretty easily"
Tie man behind the counter turned to the shelves
which were flied with boxes OF various sizes and
colors having narrow white labels pasted in 'front.'
on which were scratched somec urous hieroglyphics
After taking down several OF the boxes and not find
ing what wanted he SAID, II am sorry TO keep
you waiting so long, but the fact Is am almost
worn OUT
'.Why; how is thatg'
zone OF my young ones was poorly last night;
sat up with him, and having TO In early this
morning.
Il thought you had pretty good hours in these
stores now :"
"Ah, SIR the public knows very little about our
hours ourselves
'If you can give any details worth publishing.
j am Il reporter for the HERALD anu can soon make
the community acquainted with the merits OF the
casen
Il would be very glad TO explain the entire system
TO you II you will take the trouble 10 come TO my
place this evening""
Having obtained the name and address (which are
suppressed for obvious reasons, and made an
appointment, which was punctually kept. the FOL.
lowing Is the result Being seated In small 'front.'
LNtul OCCupleu Uu lHe tutru moor OF
large tenement house III one OF the poorest guar.
ters OF the city, the conversation was opened by
the reporter.
REroRrER-How long have you been at the dry
goods businesss
CLIRK-About twenty years. During that time
have held situations in most OF the large houses in
New York. Went into business, in small way.
orce for myself, but aaed ana vas
OBLIGED TO GO EBHIND THE COUNTER
again 10 support my family.
REroRIhR-s it oiacult to get situation in one
CLEsK-Wel, that depends. In some OF them you
60 straight to the manager and, tax ng on your nat
90 10 MI SoneDody; shen has Ia Eand ana bending
low unti your body 1oIms lie proper
CURVE or DEEP HUMILITY,
you beg that he would Introduce you to Mr.. Some
codyese and this last one may or may not think il
take your chance.
REPoRrER-but once you get IN of course you are
oil righti
CLERK-Eot exactly. First, you are given the
RULES or THE ESTABLISHMENT
70 read, which consist mostly OF the offences for
which you are liable 10 be fined. Then you re-
celve BOOK TO en,er tle amount of every sale mace
during during the day; and you must LOOK pretty sharp
that no one else sells any more than you do.
kEPoRTRg-Why, this must keep up constant
warfare among tue menS
CLERK-lt does. and II is the cause Of numerous
complaints OF lnarenton and rudencss TO customers.
kEPoRTER-How sot
CLERK-Well. you see, q man Is called forward
that IS desired, by
THE SHOP WALKER
70 come ana wait upon LADY. she may not be
quick enough at bu,ng 10 suit him, SO lie tries TO
GET rad o her as quickly as possible that he may get
another likely 10 purchase.
REfoRTER-The shop walkers then have control
over the lnens
CLERK-They have, and most brutaly they use II
sometimes, shouting al you as II you were a dog,
aud If your lace shows the smallest trace OF resent
ment they threaten 10 report you, and that Is In
stint dismissal. Those fellows are worse than any
Slave driver America has ever known
hEPoRrER.surely they would give man Of
family some notice before dscharsing him
nn IN va,.tU
years In the employ OF one OF those large houses,
DISCHARGED AT MOMENTS NOTICE
Tor some trivial offence. Time and health they
grind out OF You. and while they are making mil
lions you get mere subsistence.
clerks
CLERx-They range all the way from FIVE dollars
aweek to twenty. IN some houses they have, be-
sides the salary premiums, or as we cal them "P.
REPoRrER-May ask you what they are9
CLERK-Tbey are KIND OF bonus given to the
salesman FOR getln2 rid OF old goods ana remnants.
RkfoKfER--Ihe general impression is that rem
nants and old goods are sold at reduced prices
CLERK know 1t is, but II is wrong impression.
Remnants sometimes bring
HIGHER PRICE AS REMNANTS
than they DO in The piece.
REPoRTER-BuI whyS
CLBkK-Because women are such fools and the
salesmen push them 10 make
THE ''P. M
REPoRTER-Do all the stores In New YORK give
these "P. Ms, as you call themg
CLERK-Al but one; and III some OF the houses
u
toner during the day.
REPoRrER-Ihe goods are generally marked; then
how can he overcharges
OIERK-The goods are marked, true enough; but
II a lady comes In TO buy a shawl, for instance, IL
may be marked ten dollars. But II the clerk sees
sne likes II very much, and is determined to have it,
he may charge ner sixteen for 1t. lie then gets two
for himself.
REpoRTER--Don't you think this
LOOKS LIKE SWINDLISGS
CLERK-Most certainly do But II you happen
TO get into one OF those houses and you don't DO
that sort OF thing occasionally 10 show your clever
ness and interest IN your employers business,
yeu'u IND saturday night come when they'll tell
you they don't want you. nyou ask why, you are
answered, We'll; you don't suit our trsde.h
REPoRrER-This Is 4 irghdu State OF things.
CLERK-l have known Instances TO occur-they
are not common TO De sure, but have seen a great
many OF them Ia the course OF my experience
where lady was shown an article AT price: she
didn't think II good enough. aud being the best in
stock, the clerk would
raoDUcE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN
until he had reached the price the customer intended
70 pay Tor what she wanted.
HEPoRTEa-And this with the knowledge Of the
nrnS
CLERK-Most assurediy. That is one ofthe
TRICKS OF THE TRADE.
REPoRTER-But are ladies' 50 easily taken In as
thatf
IN the world. Alter pretty general experience Of
them for forty years tell you if you can get wo-
man's attention you make ner believe any tnlns.
hEpoRIER-lou don't seem TO havea q
VERY HIGH OPINION OF TIE sExi
CLERK-On the contrary admire tnem very mnch,
anu nothing would please me better than 10 see
some OF the poor iriendless things VINO are strug.
gins Tor an existence IN this city get the places OF
tAose ialy louts who ought 10 be out doing mans
work unoer Gods sky.
REroRlER-iou ou think, then, this s field Of labor
that ought 10 be opened up 10 woneDf
CLERK do; and also think that those women
VINO are running 80 Iurlousiy alter the ballot would
confer much greater benefit on their sex II they
would shame those big aDlebo1ed fellows from be-
hlnd the counter and make room FOR the women.
RKPoRTER-Do Jon think the
WOMEN COULD srAND THE WORK
and the hoursf
CLFRS-of course they could; they do at present.
Tne hours certainly are unnecessarily long, Dat Time
will remedy that.
REPoRIER-What are the hours
ClERK-Generally RON seven 10 hacpast in sam
mer and haifpast sc, en- 20 eight IN winter 70 seven
and eight al night Then out Of that you are allowed
half an hour for dinner, anG about once month In
your turn, you are obliged 10 vi SIX O'Clock In
the morning.
REPoBTER--What do they come on those DAYS so
early forf
CIERK-TheY mnst take their turr 70 dust on and