The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-14
QUEER LUNCH sAskRTs.
Boston Tmes.l |

cases are not hlied with perfume0 $heetS of music, but with as much lunch as would cost quarter at restaurant" was the remark ot proprietor Of dry goods store on Third street to Ss Paul reporter the other morning, as dozen or more young ladies, some of them carrying or diusry music rolls, vent past at lively walk. It was not yet eight o'clock, and the remark had been made taSt ;s -SS early for young ladies to pay visit to their music teachers, for such, to all out ward appearance, was the e-rand of the young ladies
 Yes" continued the owner of the dry goods store, ",sose innocent looking music cases are possibly filled with ham sandwich, half dozen cookies, an apple, and a general assortment ot bread aud cold meats"
 They Are of for an early picnic 2'
 "PcpicS Yes, picnic; but not to any ot she lakes, Those young ladies are clerks in some of the stores down town They live too far away to go home at noon, and so they carry their lunches, and those music rolls are their dinner pails."
 "Why do they use them? Didn't you yourself just make the error of suppoSlrg they were q merry party just otf tor an early music lesson Won't other peo- ple think the same9 The young lady that works behind counter in some shop is woman-a lady who, aside from some schoolgirl pride and desire to look sweet and attractive under all circumstances, possesses that natural female delicacy and sense of the eternal fitness of things, tha, tells her that there IS something out of harmony between her own pretty fig ure-and she knows it IS prc,ty-and a dinner pail. Ii 1t is not this feeling, 1t is a desire to conceal from the public the fact that she is obliged to work some. where for a living, and hence the music roll"
 As a rule. young lady who works in store in St. Paul, as elsewhere, does not give this fact away to the general public, except to such of it as has occasion to care for her professional services behind the counter. Hundreds of such young ladies pass along the streets two or three times each day. Always tastily dressed, though ofien-nearly always-with plain material, with a parasol, if the sun IS shining, carryipg music roll or book, for oft times the lunch basket is disguised in this shape, pretty m figure and feature, and with pair of eyes that seem little reckless as to the owner of those into which they look, shortly before eight o'clock in the morning, score ot young girls may be seen within a single block. An hour later they will be behind ooun- ters or at desks earning an honest living. AS rule, the lady clerk, the shop girl IS not too vulgar-is not given 10 firtation 10 any great extent, either on the street or behind the counter, and except for little eood-natured semi-desilrg, that comes from natural spirit and acquaintance with many people, she is strictly business.
 The successful clerks" said the pro prietor of house where fifteen girls are employed, are girls of better taste than two-thirds of the customers that they try to please. If they have enough good taste to handle their goods properly, and be of assistance to lady customers in mak. ing selections of goods, you may be sure they know how 10 get themselves up in the most attractive style No, they are not all pretty, bu, some who are most plain in appearance are the most useful behiRd the counter, and draw the highest salanes. Whatever delay and annoyance the fair one may be subject to from al- legged mashers, who oflen frequent the stores to take up the time ot the young ladies who wait on them on the p,etext of some trivial purchase, does not come 10 those who have not a pretty face" There isn't anything interesting to be said about the way we spend our time" said young lady with prsuy brown eyes that looked through pair of spectacles at the reporter, who had introduced him. self, and asked the question as she stood behind the counter. It's just hard work, and there's all there isto il. When there are no customers to attend to, ~c are ex. pected to be putting the counters and shelves Tn more attractive condition, and ln other ways helping in the business.
 What do we do when VIC are not in the store? We have our rooms to take care of, our dresses 10 make ard repair, and l expect we do as much general homework before coming 10 the store and after we leave as most girls who do no; have to work for living. Of course we have some recreation, and so in the winter we go to the rinks once io while, or number of us meet in some girls room, and we play progressive euchre.
 That man." she continued, pointing to young man sitting before the counter little farther down the aisle, who was examining some hanakerchiefs in lcis- urely msuner, doesn't want to buy any thing. He thinks he is starting mild sort of filtration with the lady who IS waiting on him, but right there he is mis- taken We can tell one nf thoEe men ax soon as he comes in"
 Do these people give you much trouble !'
 !" II they do, it's the girls own fault. Such men never trouble me in the least ifthey do not find our company congenial, they soon quit, and if that young lady had anything else to do, ard didn't want little recreation, she should be very icy in her style of showing goods. In some stores there are lady superIntendents who