The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-07-31
The Typical New York Shop Girl.

The Typical New York Shop Girl
The typical New York shop girl is
unique in many ways, and is as I'M
like the Brooklyn, Philadelphia or Bos'
ton shop girl rs the blackberry differs
from the strawberry Her speech, dress,
habits and mode of living are peculiar
TO herself. 1t is estimated that in New
York alone about 10000 girls earn then
living as shop girls. They are general
" of Irish American or German parent
age, and attend the public schoolsup to
the age of fifteen, or perhaps sixteen,
and then enter store. Here they re-
main, first serving at a small notion
counter, and, il bright and capable, soon
rise to the lace or flower-room. AS a
general thing these girls are good look
inc, and some of them are really beau
tiful with arched insteps and long
taper fingers, that many Il millionaire's
daughter, standing on the other side OF
the counter may well envy. They also
dress neatly, some of them in excellent
taste, their hair being especially notice
able. So many fashionable women COM
DldlU lIluL uo SDbil ~ Il way VI
wearing the hair is known every shop
girl in the city catches at it, And why
should she notP If she cannot make
herself beautiful by rich attire, she GER
tainly deserves credit for trying to APP
pear as pretty as possible Almost all
of them wear the hair in the Langtry
fashion; that is, twisted in small knot
at the nape of the neck with curled
bang in front, although many still cling
to the straight bang, which gives not
highly refined countenance bold look.
Their compilations are good, though
pale from indoor confinement, and very
few use paint or powder
Most shop girls have very sharp
tongues and quick tempers, and woe
betide the fidgety or hard-to-pease shop
per. Many timid ladies are actually
afraid of shop girls, and quake in their
boots while asking in meek voice to be
allowed to see some lace. Then the girl
wanted to know" how wide. what kind,
what price," etc, instead OF delighting
the heart of the shopper by bringing
down all the lace in the storeand letting
her choose her yard or two from it, The
affability of shop girl and her willing
ness to show and give opinions on her
wares, will bring her sure trade, and
has more to do with the popularity of II
store than any other one thing.
New York shop girls are divided into
two classes One class who think they
are sadly abused creatures, and that ev-
cry lady who sits down at their counter
is their natural enemy, and therefore
should be treated with as little courtesy
as policy will allow. This class of girls
are loud in their talk as well as exceed
ingly slangy, and one hears such vul-
garisms as "Oh, what cheek, ''Do
you hear the talk of that onep" Cash,
hurry up or I'll box your ears" etc
They are fond of walking in Sixth ave-
nue. and flirting, and Use much bando-
line on their hair; seldom have clean
finger nails or teeth
The other class are girls of consider
able refinement, who are dainty about
themselves, pay great deal of atten-
ton to keeping the hands white and the
collars and cuffs irreproachable, copy
the manners and expressions of their
most elegant customers, study the arts
of pleasing and patience and keep far
aloof from the other class OF girls The
two classes heartily detest each other,
the first named referring to the latter
class as "them girls who try to put on
airs" and the latter elevating their chins
when passing the former to show their
utter disdain. m"o
Both classes are warm-hearted and
loyal to their companions when in trou-
BILE, They have their quarrGls like all
other girls, generally about lead pencils,
account books or some girls careless
ness in folding up or putting into place
goods recently displayed. They are also
great critics, and talk freely among
themselves of the actions of the propri-
etor and his managers. Any partially
is quickly noticed, and prejudice
against floor-walker or other dignita-
~ Is quickly formed, whether for liking
or not liking, and held to against all
odds.
A New York shop girl can tell &
would-be lady from a real lady as truly
as any old Irish woman who has LIVED
with the quality" Many Of the ordi
nary classes of shop girls marry, but the
majority of the better class remain sin
gle, because the men they may marry
are not refined enough for them, anc
the men that they would marry never
ask them.
A stranger would oftentimes find j
difficult todistinguish our shop girl from
our fashionable belle, but there Is some
thing indeilnable about NewYork shor
girl that to New Yorker distinguishes
her from all other classes.
The possibilities of Colorado rs an 40