Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-02-07
ABOUT SHOP-GIRLS.
generally Impcrtinent, and with No
Education or Breeding.

n compact and energetic little wo-
man, with neatly brushed hair, high
color, and an exceedingly business-like
manner, was bustling down the floor of
great New York dry goods store,
when the spectacle of u solitary man
among several hundred indifferent wo-
men attracted her attention. The man
couldn't endure the situation much
longer he had been stared at, jostled,
Jeered, and snubbed until he felt round
shouIdered and hollOw-eyed.
What can do for you, sir?" asked
the compact little woman in an agree
able voice.
"Oh, l came in search of informa-
ton
Have you found it?''
mo, | can't say that | have. l
wanted to make some inquiries about
the relative merits of foreign and do
nestle 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
Tor casual conversation was Monday
after G p. M
you made the mistake of approach
ing pretty girls. Men always do that.
and they usually do it with smile
that gives the pretty girl an opportu-
nifty Plain girls are always civil
with men. 1t is habit they acquire
early"
81 know all about shop-girls," con-
tinued the little woman, resting a
plump hand on one hip, while she
tapped her teeth thoughtfully with a
long pencil which she snatched from
her back hair, where it had stuck out
like the tishbOne in the head-dress of q
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. Pm superintendent of them
here, and find them easy to manage.
One must never be the least bit famiI-
lar with the girls or they will become
unmanageable."
"a great many of them have been
III better circumstances, have they
nOt?"
That is very common impression,
but one that hasn't the smallest foun-
dation, III my opinion. The girls are
fond of giving people that idea. In
point OF fact, however, they are almost
all OF them the most pretentious and
ambitious members of their families,
and miles above their parents in the
social scale. When q woman of posi-
ton meets with misfortune she reso-
lutely avoids the shop. She will do
anything rather than come to an es-
Enlistment like this. She takes in
sewing, gives painting or music les
sons, or goes out as governess
for half the money she could earn
here"
''How do American shop-girls COM
pare with those in England?"
''There is no comparison whatever, "
said the little Englishwoman with de-
cisive shake of her head. The Amer
lean girls are superior in every respect
Intelligence, taste, neatness, quick
ness 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 are only
saucy or impertinent, if they offend at
all. There is vast difference. London
girls are 50 stupid, you know"
'sAre there many complaints about
the girls?"
''Oh, yes; quite number. We OBJ
serve, however, that the complaints al
ways come from shoppers who are not
ladies. A well-bred woman will not
find a 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"
' it'll this the little woman nodded
brl ,htly, thrust the pencil into her
back hair again, and hustled cheerily
away.