Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-25

Sigm-Business Hack Lists-A system
That ministsrs % Reckloss ExsrAvar
gaace-Rsstiag Fair DelinqaensA
From the New York Mercury.
For some days last week there appeared In q
morning paper the following curious advertise
ment:
"If J. W. win return the skeletons he will re-
ceise the price he demands"
The name attached to this invitation was that
OF well known Fifth avenue modiste. and
Mercury reporter, DESTROYS of ascertaining In
what connection skeletons were made valuable
In the business of enhancing woman's charms,
called on the advertiser. The servant stated
that she was engaged, and ushered him into .
reception room. Across the hall was door
marked private offfce," and the reporter
speedily became aware OF an anything but
friendly conversation being conducted on the
young man came out. followed by the modiste.
very Wen" said the young man in angry tones.
This is the fifth time you've got me here, and
it will be the last. You know how much want;
pay it, or
I'll GIVE THE WHOLE SNAP AWAY"
The modiste entered the reception room with
out answering, and asked the reporter his bust
ness. When he stated it she flushed and
replied. hestatingly: "Well, there's nothing In
it, Sir. My brother Is a medical student, and q
young man who was employed here stole two
handsome prepared skeletons from him and he
advertised for them. That's all. assure you.
Excuse me, but I'm very busy, and must bid you
good-day." The reporter went out. On the
front steps he found the young man, who seized
him by the arm and said: you're reporter,
amt You? thought 80. Just come along with
me and IN tell you what you want to know.
I've got the skeletons, and here they are" And
hire ct
sized account books, whose leaves. as he f1ut-
tered them over. disclosed long lines of entries
ana columns of figures Il was her book
Keeper the young man went on, land worked
like slave for her for S12 a week. She hasn't
PAID me cent these three months and last
week she told me she wouldn't unless took it
at the rate of $40 week. Then kicked and
ELOPED WITH THE SKELETONS,
and she's been advertising for me ever since.
Why9 Why. because she can't run her business
without EN-, that's why. There's $50, 900 in
money lent in these books, and she can't make
out her spring bills without them. Why, could
burst the whole millinery business in New York
inside of month if could get hold of their
skeletons"
''But what do you call skeletons?" demanded
the reporter. ''The extra books, replied the
young man. "see here now: There are few
dressmakers in New York with any style that
DO straight business. They can't. Their Gus
toners won't have it, There's more money lent
than there ia spent on customers dresses and
when bill for couple of thousand is made out
you can bet your life that half of it is clear cash
with interest In these here Skeletons" said
the young man, impresSively tapping the books
with his fOrefnger. there's over SIS 900 entries
and less than $780, 900 Of them are square bust
ness. The rest are loans at per cent month
that the husbands have to pay for along with
the clothes their wives wear. There's one lady
vi xrri11 I>o
S. 600 and less than $1,000 is for dresses The
rest is cash borrowed since last fall. and
INTEREST ON IT."
''Do you mean to say that dress-making is
only another name for usury them" Il mean to
say that many dress makers in New York lend
money on interest to customers. That's where
the skeletons come from The skeletons are
the secret books of the house On one mage of
them is entered the actual Indebtedness of the
customer for dresses. On the opposite page are
the loans Every month the books of the bust
ness are made up from these skeletons, the
ing account. See here. There isn't q full name
in this whole book, you notice. but each amount
is headed with a number. a letter or star or
some combination of them. This number, let
ter, star or combination, corresponds with some
name on the other books. and nobody's got the
key to them but the man who keeps the books
I'm the man that kept the books up there, and
I've got the key and the skeletons, too. SO if
don't get what she owes me there'll be trouble
about the spring settlement. But more than
that, I've got the
BI.AcK-BooK, TOO"
"What is the black book" sThe credit reg
lister. There's system among the dress-rnakers
of keeping up sort of registration of customers
who are bad pay. 1t was started about ten years
ago by big modiste on University place. When
ever lady ran. up an account and refused or
failed to settle it the mOdistc entered her name
In memorandum book. and sent written slips
detailing her Indebtedness to the different other
big dressmakers here. They were warned in
this way to look out for her. and in return
would warn her of their own bad customers
After couple of years these names made up
long list About five years back, when the bus
mess OF lending money commenced. this list be-
came very valuable, for it saved tho dress
makers from heavy loss. There are some swell
names in 1t, can tell you-wOmen who are rich
enough to buy you and me out with q years in
come. and who yet have to pay cash for every
bit OF ribbon they buy. But women are not the
only ones in the black-book. There are pages
devoted to men, too. For instance:-You are In
the habit of kicking at paving your wife's bills.
Very well. You are entered as kicker. and an
extra charge tackled to your
wFE's BILLS EVERY TIME
they are sent in to pay for the trouble of colec-
tien. Another man Is slow pay, 80 interest is
added to his bill. Doubtful husbands are kept
account OF, and those who have to be sued
noted. There are men on the list who are regu-
iariy charged with the expenses of suing them
to collect their wives bills. Some women are
allowed unlimited credit, because they have the
knack of making custom for their dress makers.
There is one lady who dealt with our house who
hasn't really paid bill for years, and vet we
have made thousands through her Ali these
points are down in the book as regularly as the
accounts themselves. Why look here" He
designated an entry on a final page of one of his
skeletons 1t ran: s4***-A close bareainer. bnt
fond of show; husband easy; father pays many
bills. A. l." Following it was the entry: "A.
and buyer; husband suspicious. but
pays; money of her own; been sued twice. f" while
still another reads: 80. O.RIrregular; interest
charges
THE FINAL SENTENCE,
the young man explained, meant that an allow
ance must always be made in Mrs. O. O.'s ac-
counts for the delays in paying them In the
same way all bills and credits were adjusted by
reference to the credit register As regards the
loaning of money he stated that the customers
to whom that confidence is extended are only
the recipients of it when the lender is satisfied
their sOlvQncv Inv a svsfou, n boro&o ~ II