New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-10-01

He is blown clear out of sight,
For he's struck some dynamite
And no more will baggage smite,
On the roadD
The Judge.
"A SAMPLE SALESWOMAN.
When Serena Smilax, by dint Of re-
peated applications and long waiting,
at last got situation as saleswoman
in the dry goods and notion store of
Messrs. Acre & Co., she was for time.
perfectly happy. Her wages meant
more to her than the five dollars a week
signified to most working people. She
had always been poor, and it was only
by her mothers hard work she was
kept in the free school long enough to
get an ordinary education. Many peo-
pie blamed her mother for not putting
her out at service, SO that she would be
enabled to buy her own toggery, at
least; and one kindly-disposed lady
offered to take her and send her to
school, providing clothes and board for
the small labor she could perform out
of school hours. But all these sugges-
tons and offers were declined, for. be
it known, Miss Serena and her mother
had ambitions, and would not hear of
any kitchen servitude. So, after much
toiling and moiling on the mothers
part, and prinking and t.ourishing on
the daughters. she arrived at her pres
emit high honor, and her satisfaction was
according.
A few days sutliced to put her in pos
session of the plan and routine of the
work, and she proved to be fair spec
linen of beginner at the business.
She was told that at the end of three
months her salary would be increased,
if she was found competent; and the
manager also informed her that the one
amongst the clerks who sold the largest
value of goods during each six months
would receive gift from the firm. Her
Acknowledgement gave her an idea of
the gift, which was in proportion to the
standing of the winner One case, last
year, they quoted, when Bianaca Sellers
was presented with a black silk dress,
ready made She, besides her good
luck in winning the prize, had tho dis
tinction Of being the Oldest employee in
the establishment. But, in ordinary
cases, fvc-dollar gold-piece was the
lowest value given.
One of the strict rules of the place
was that there was to be no respecting
of persons" All. whether rich or poor,
were to be treated with equal courtesy.
The members of the firm set an example
in that respect, so that Acre & Co. had
the goodwill of the entire community.
At the end of two weeks the new
saleswoman had become quite familiar
lied with her surroundings, and had
adopted many Of the airs and attitudes
OF her associates. She flattered herself
that she knew how to manage custom
,ers in the most winsome manner, to the
end of obtaining large sales; and sell
dom was she known to let one leave
her counter without adding some entry
to her little book that Cash. handled
SO deity.
just at this period she began to learn
to make q distinction between people
whose purses showed plethora OF this
world lucre and those the contrary.
A slight GOODNESS sprang up between
herself and the latter class, which was
so indefinite rs to be not worthy of
note at least, the persons so affected
were not liable to complain to the firm.
She fell into the habit Of making little
disparaging remarks to her neighbor
behind the next counter to the right
when one OF the ''five-centers. = as she
termed them, came in at the door near
est them. And every enc who has OBJ
served the habits of the average sales
woman knows exactly how she would
act on their advance to her. The young
person at the counter to> the left
kept herself quite aloof from these
demonstrations, she having been
brought up lacy, and not forgetting
that fact because Fate had thrown her
into her present position.
One rainy day, when customers were
scarce, Miss Smilax perceived person
coming from another part of the store,
and under the guidance of cash
boy, making directly for her counter
'Her nose went up to the usual altitude
as she observed the plain dress and cot
ton gloves and stout shoes of the
woman, and she made a mental calcu-
latlon Of how long it would take her to
clean her out Of her small change.
s.Will you show me some Valencien-
mes edging? was the first question.
The knowing salesWoman, after look
ing indifferently for an instant, turned
without word and handed down q box
and removed the cover.
This is not what asked for. l
want Valencienncs.' = The box con-
tanned crochet trimming.
Still not word; but the box was
carefully replaced, the girl being partic-
sular as to exact lines in putting it up.
Then she took down another box, mean
while looking at her fellow-emplOve to
the right with a meaning smile. This
time it was cotton lace, and the lady
said:
II want the real
\ '.Real?" said the girl, at last conde-
scending to speak. ..Why, real Valen-
ciennes is gerry expensive. Now this,
think, will suit you. It is considered q
good imitation. Twenty cents. 9
She held out the stuff; but, as she saw
that she was not likely to make the sale,
she refolded it, placed it in the box and
put the box back on the shelf. It is i'm.
possible to describe her supercili air
while doing this. The lady waited q
moment, and then said, quite gently:
Have you any Valenc iennes edgingp
It 50. win you beso kind as to,show Il
to mepn
Il Serena Smilax had but looked into
her customers eye she would have seen
there an expression that might have
enlightened her; but Serena SmilAx had
no notion Of looking st the person at
AL She aimn1v elevated he1. nose 4