The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-12-19
WOMAN AND HOME.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE GIRLS
WHO CROWD INTO STORES.
Beauty Binshing Unseen-Black the stand
ard Co1or-Books That Mold the
Face-A Matrimonial Lottery
Cut Flowers-stray Items.

gray-haired proprietor of State street retail
house, 1she Is not only absolutely valneless for
from three to six months, but she Is in the
way. The pay is small and inadequate to
the expense OF their living, but 1t is actually
more than they are worth until they acquire
some knowledge Of business A boy goes into q
department with the expectation OF Learning
as he learns and Is IS of value to it. But girls
think they are worth money at once. The
majority of girls behind counters live at
home. In fact many houses will take no girls
behind their counters than those hav-
ing homes for, of course, they could not exist
on the money their services are worth until
they are thoroughly conversant with the
business. Not only is the girl when she first
enters store ignorant Of the method of sell
ing goods, but often a positive drawback to
doing SO. To know how to handle customers
is an actual trade. 1t cannot be learned in a
month. The matter of women's work and
women's wages is one I have long considered.
must confess that arrive at no clear solu-
ton. There is a constant cry of shame that
women are so poorly paid in stores, but I de-
clare that, however small Is their pay, with
isolated exceptions it is fully all they earn
and all that the value Of their services war
rant Women are more difficult to dis
cipline than men. The boy or young man
does, as q rule, unquestionably what he Is
told to do. The young women want an ex-
planation.
"a girl who tries to learn can 60 into q
store and work herself up by degrees into q
position of trust and responsibility and where
she will be well paid. But it's the sheerest
nonsense for girls to suppose that they can
walk into store and earn enough money to
support themselves comfortably. / cannot
understand why SO many persons suppose
this possibility, either. There are few
mornings in the week when / do not find
awaiting me when come to the store from
ten to twenty girls all anxious for work, and,
with few exceptions they have no experience
or knowledge of business If parents whose
daughters must work to earn money would
give them comprehensive education as a
basis for general intelligence, and apprentice
them for the remainder Of the time to learn
some business or trade, there would be less
anxiety concerning the question OF womens
work. and the matter Of wages would of
necessity be regulated. Skilled workman
ship will demand it's full value everywhere
In France women engage In many trades,
and are quite as well paid for their work as
MEL. But girls are put to learn these trades
the same as boys, and do learn them thor
oughly and completely. In this country the
girl goes to school till she's outgrown her
short frocks, and is then expected to step
into some place where she can earn long ones
for herself"
"The girl who gets into a position in a
store where she can earn her living must
serve long and faithfully first" said a young
lady in a suit department.. "When she has
attained this position it is by no means an
easy one to fulfill. For illustration: In this
store we are paid no commissions on our
sales--simply regular salaries. But we are
expected to sell from $50 to $500 worth of
goods per day. II we fail to make good this
expectation our services are not long re-
tained.' There Is an immense class Of idle
women residing in the city. They include
women who board and have nothing on earth
TO occupy their tinne and attention. The Ia
vorite amusement of such women Is to 20
shopping, whether or not they desire to buy
or have money to buy with. Such women
are the bane Of the saleswomen They come
In with every assumption Of purchasing, and
are handed over with flourish by the man
ager to a saleswo uan. After they've looked
at nearly every lrment in stock they'll in
form you that they do not wish to
purchase, that they are looking at goods
for friend in some suburban town The
moment they have departed without buying
up will rush the department manager.
E'Why didn't you sell to that partyP Is his
demand. You may reply that it was be-
cause she did not wish to buy. 1t makes no
difference. You are expected TO sell Il Is
what you are paid for. Not to show goods
II you have any number of people to depart
without buying during day, you can be as
sured that a slip will be filed by the manager
at headquarters stating that Miss - had 50
many customers 60 out without purchasing,
and the next week you'll be looking for a
situation, Oh, it's q mistake for girls to
crowd into stores. Outside of suit and
cloak departments there are few posi-
tions where money enough can be earned
to live on decently. The wages of the ma
jority who are behind counters are included
in the range between So and IS per week.
For instance, there is our little cashier on
this floor. She is new in the business and
homeless. Her salary is just s5 per week.
Four Of this she pays for board and room.
The remaining dollar is all she has for cloth.
ing, washing and incidentals Through the
worst and coolest weather she must walk to
and from her work, for she cannot pay car
fare. Had my life to begin over, and the
experience have now, would not 60 into a
store. The girl WHO has TO work had better
chop off Q couple Of years from her school
days and devote them to acquiring a trade. "