Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-02-13
EEW YORK SHOP GIRLS.
where They Come From and How They
Act in a Business Capacity.

Act in a Business Capacity.
A compact and energetic little wom-
an, with neatly-brushed hair, high
color, and an exceedingly businesslike
manner, was busting down the floor
OF a great New York dry goods store,
when the spectacle of solitary man
among several hundred Indifferent
women attracted her attention. The
man couldn't endure the situation
much longer. He had been stared at,
iostled, jeered and snubbed until he
felt round -shouldered and hollow.
eyed.
"NNhat can do for you sir?" asked
the compact little woman in an agree
able voice
"Oh, l came in search of informa-
tion.".
"Have you found it?'
"No, l can't say that l have. I
wanted to make some inquiries about
the relative merits of foreign and do
mestic shop girls. l asked two of the
many young women here. One told
me that the intelligence office was in
the basement behind the elevator
shaft, and the other that the best time
for casual conversation was Monday
after 6p, m.
"You made the mistake ofapproaCh-
ing pretty girls. Men always do that,
and they usually do it with smile
that gives the pretty girl an opportuni-
ty. Plain girls are always civil with
men. 1t is habit they acquire early"
81 know all about shop girls" con-
tinued the little woman, while she
tapped her teeth thoughtfully with
long pencil which she snatched from
her back hair, where it had stuck ouI
like the fish bone in the head-lress
of Fiji Islander. 81 have been with
them all my life; am one now, only
I'm no longer a girl, but | have three
of my own. I'm superintendent of
them here, and find them easy to
manage. One must never be the least
bit familiar with the girls, or they
will become unmanageable,'
"a great many OF them have Leen
in better circumstances, have they
not?'
THAT is a very common impression,
but one that hasn't the smallest foun-
dation, in my opinion. The girls are
fond of giving people that idea. In
point of fact, however, they are al
most all of them the most pretentious
and ambitious members of their fam
lilies, and miles above their parents in
the social scale. When a woman Of
position meets with misfortune she
resolutely avoids the shop. She will
do anything rather than come to an
establishment like this. She takes in
sewing, gives paintingOr music les
sons, or goes out as a gOverness for
half the money she could earn here
"lIow do American shop girls CON-
pare with those in England2'
"There is no comparison whatever"
said the little Englishwoman, with Il
decisive shake of her head, the Amer
lean girls are superior in every re-
spect--intelligence, taste, neatness,
Quickness and courtesy. 1t may strike
you that there is doubt about the last,
but | am right. The London shop
girls are insolent, while here they arc
only saucy or impertinent, if they Of
fend at I'll, there is a vast difference.
London girls are SO stupid, you know.
Are there many complaints about
the girls?"
"Oh, yes; quite a number. We oh
serve, however, that the complaints al.
ways come from shoppers who are not
ladies, A well-bred woman will not
find disagreeable shop girl in long
pilgrimage in New York. If the
girls are bothered with questions
which no one has right to ask they
are very apt to be pert
With this the little woman nodded
brightly, thrust the pencil iEto her
back hair, and hustled cheerily away,