The New York herald., 1875-12-17
OUR SHOP GIRLS.

ON THEIR FEET ALL DAY-FINEs AND I'M
PosrTIoNs-sMALL WAGES AND HARD MAS
TIERS
At this season OF the year. when the heart throbs
with charitable impulse, public attention rarely
turns to class that ministers well for the great
IL is composed of the saeswOmen, who stand from
morn till night behind the counters Of the great EN-
poriums displaying the novelties and ewelry SO much
in demand during Christmas and the succeeding week
To them, IL be denied, Christmas brings little
Of the promised good cheer so often sung. Naught
but extra work results from the increased
demand for holiday goods. Heretofore much
has been written and said upon the injustice
10 which this long suffering portion of the working
women has been subjected Their weary hours OF
misery behind the counter, foot from halfpas seven
A. NJ until far INTO the night, without chance TO sit
down rest themselves has attracted the atten
of charitable ladies' and made them to feel that
something must be done to ameliorae the condition OF
this hardly pressed section of deserving ssterhood
The ladies' who interested in the objects Of tho
Workingwoman's Protective Union have been
AGITATISG
in this direction for months and striving to alleviate
some OF the Affections which beset and frequently
power the young girls who 'end the stores" and sme
upon thoughtlcss customers daily None of their Of
forts have fraught with results effective than
being thus perpctrated midst and simple stigmas
upon the merchant princes who the tyrants within
whose domains the injustice Is done Complaint after
complaint has been registered in the great volume OF
public opinion.
Now more than ever tho charitable ladies whose
hearts aching for the oppressed incensed
and determined to their powers TO lessen, If not
entirely remove, the crying abuses They have sought
the aid Of best and most influential people in the
gpnm unity
tigate Responsive To the appeal this paper
desnatched reporer 10 the different stores in the city
where young girls employed clerks aud saleswo-
exactly how they are treated and what
their grievances arc The rst Of these visited was the
great building the of Fourteenth street and
Broadway, known popularity as
PALAIs ROYAL
In this store arc number Of Well behaved, respect
I able looking young women and girls who
HARD TO EARN AN HONEST LIVELIHOOD
The OF salary may be stated at about 80 per
week and the hours from eight A. M until half past
SIX r NJ. THIS seems small pay for 50 many hours but
the money and labor are the least OF the drawbacks to
the situation In the 1rst place the girls have to
stand all day long. Not seat for any OF
no time allowed Tor dinner. The rtgime OF this
Enlistment be better explained in the language Of
one of the employees than by mere verbal description.
she was comely young woman OF perhaps I'VE and
twenty years dark-cyed, brunette or middle height
and the sole support Of mother and one two smaller
sisters She was afraid to speak to the reporter at
irst declaring that she must not converse with any
body who vas not there TO purchase goods HIS
mission was made known by the visitor, and thls
rendered her still more unwilling TO speak at all
don't feel at Hocgty,n SAID the O.
porter 'tto tell what bylaws you and under
what unjust restrictions you laborY"
mo, SIR; I'D rather not You see, sir, We all
busiiy employed now. II Is holiday times. But after
the HOLIDAYS know that Of us will be dis
charged and each Of is fearful that it will be her
self We are AFRAID 10 SPEAK, badly on as we are.
and that is the truth.
Cant you answer me one or two questions ?"
"No, sir; please don't The boss is everywhere Ho
is watching now. DO you want this tan No It's
cheap. / can't talk to you"
The person who had caused this interruption having
on a
hard time may tell you that Don't look up, please
Take this card and article in your hand and
il as II you we're gong 10 purchase It, and I'll
one or things you which ought to be put in the
paper If IL was only let the folk know what
poor working girls have 10 so through
HONEST LIVING,
Now, SIR, come here at eight In the morning,
work all day; have stand our feet Till six
r. NJ; are allowed any time for lunch, aud
are fined for the least thing Do you SEQ
We'll, on II is written that any girl who into
her place behind the counter with apron, without
grievance but assure you it is not It's joke TO
have wash and iron your own bibs and aprons at
home ghts after ten hours long standing behind one
Of these cases as one must 40 MT being able % aord
the luxury OF a washerwoman"
Do Of tho grls complain or this practice OF keep
ing them standing all dayY"
eThey do even worse than that One OF them tainted
to-day and bad to 60 home. But you must leave mo
now sir; here's customer" The reporter left ana
next turning down Fourteenth street. paused before
the magndceny decorated at the of sixth
avenue. II was all Christmas without, but something
less joyful within. This Macy's great emporium,
lne show windows, crowds OF visitors and hun
ureds Of young girl clerks, cash messengers and sales
women. There said TO be nearly, IL not quite, four
hundred young women engaged at this place during this
holiday season They range in age from the tenderest
years, say nine or ten to twenty or twenty-five ana
pretty and well clad How they can be so Is one OF
tho mysteries OF New Nork life yet TO bc explained.
The rate wages paid TO these young people AZ
this establishment is about 81 week. For this miser
able stipend they toll from eight A. NJ until nine r. NJ
this time Of the year, and always without sitting
down. Indeed a chair OF stool Is unknown INSIDE any
OF the counters except at the desks Of the cash Or
CHI
the reporter yesterday evening that she and her sister
endurance by this terrible strain on their physical
powers They are kept going all the day long and II
they we're not they have opportunity or means OF
resting other than what may be found the door or
counters This young girl AFRAID to say much
10 the reporter lest somebody should overhear and
have her discharged Fines she said, were imposed on
them for the slightest derection, but they did not
mind that SO much as the fatigue consequent on tho
long hours they were
COMPELLED TO STAND WITHOUT CESSATION
or minutes rest The employer, she SAID. claimea
that because they allowed quit work in the reg
uar season at Saturday the extra time required
OF them now nothing more than ialr compensation
for the indulgence ,,.
Tho same complaints about the difficulty oil Keeping
on their fecs carly morning until late AT nsnt was
made to the reporter by the young ladies at Ridley 4
SONS corner Of Grand and Allen streets, and other
places 10 remedy this by calling public attention TO II
Is the aim Of the Working Women's Protective Union
CITE ANCHIp THIEF CAPTURED.