Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-04-29
SMART SALESWOMEN.
How They Manage to Increase Their
Meager Incomes In Cities.

How They Manage to Increase Thell
Meager Incomes In Cities.
A bright-looking young woman,
whose garments were of elegant quail.
ity and fashionable cut, was observed
talking earnestly to saleswoman in
one of the large stores on Sixth avenue
New York, the other day. She was OBJ
served with especial interest by two
persons-one the superintendent of the
store and the other a newspaper man.
The saleswoman appeared to be show.
ing the bright-looking young woman
some laccs; but, as the box of delicate
fabrics remained almost entirely unno-
ticed during the ten minutes converse.
ton that ensued, it was clearly evident
that the two women were not talking
about laces.
"Miss -" said the superintendent,
addressing the saleswoman after the
elegantly -attired visitor had departed,
81 can not permit you to transact your
private business over the counters OF
this store"
1.-The lady asked to lock at some
laces," replied the saleswoman, pcrtly.
Il understand all about it. Don't let
it occur again." responded the superin-
tendent in tone SO sharp that it caused
the rebuked subordinate to drop her
eyes and flush deeply. She silently re-
placed the box of laces on shelf and
walked to the other end of the counter.
THAT girl is more intent on building up
q little trade of her own than in serving
the interests of her employer, explained
the superintendent to the newspaper
man. ''If did not watch them closely
some of our clerks would devote half of
their time during business hours to their
own personal transactions.
"Then that bright-looking young lady
was not a custOmer?' ventured the
writer.
"She was a customer of that female
clerk, but not of the store" said the
superintendent. perhaps you don't
know that a large portion of the women
employed in the principal retail stores
in New York are either brokers or spec
ulators." Receiving mute acknOwl-
edgment of ignorance on this point, the
speaker continued: "Well such is the
fact. The bright-looking young person
who just walked out was trying to sell
the elegant winter wrap that she wore
to the saleswoman. l imagine, how
ever, that they were unable to agree on
terms. Each woman was, of course, bent
upon driving as good bargain as posi-
ble.''
'.Do you mean to say that that richly
attired lady was in need of money!
Not at all. That isn't the point.
You must understand that there are
neutrality-suspicious. thousands of wo-
men who hold respectable positions in
New York society by virtue of their
in keeping up the appearance
of being fashionable. Their ingenuity
makes up for their lack of ready cash.
Take, for example, the wife of a man
whose only income is a salary of five
thousand dollars year. The wife has
to obtain foothold in what's
termed good society," and
she finds that her husbands slender
means will not permit her to indulg &c in
the extravagances practiced by hel
acquaintance in the matter
of dress. She is bound to retain hel
foothold in society, however, and to do
that she must DOT appear in shabby at
tire, nor must she fail to keep pace with
the changes of fashion. How can she
it? Many women solve this
problem by running into debt, but not
so with the class of women of which ]
speak. The ingenious woman hunts up
the female brokers and spectators in
the large dry-goods stores and invokes
their aid. Suppose it is late in the fall
and the ingenious woman wants a
handsome winter wrap. She has
been prudent during the summer anG
saved money enough to buy a hand.
some garment. Consequently she goes
to a store, selects just what she wants,
and pays cash for it. When her hus.
band sees her purchase he exclaims:
"Why, Eleanor, isn't this rather ex.
travagant for us?' She calmly says:
'Wait and see.'' The winter passe.
with its pleasant social events, and the
expensive wrap does good service. Al
Easter Mrs. Eleanor goes to church
with stylish and captivating new suit.
where did you get money enough tc
buy such a nice spring suit?" asks her
husband. Il sold my winter wrap" the
wife replies, cheerily. In the following
fall and winter Mrs Eleanor displays
a new and fashionable dolman, and in
reply to her husbands queries she ex.
plains that she was enabled to buy the
garment by adding little to what she
received for her captivating spring suit.
'Where in the mischief do you sell
your clothes?' asks the husband. '.Tc
speculative saleswomen in dry-goods
houses" says the wife. There you have
the whole proceeding in nutshell.
The ingenious woman manages to kcer
pace with the fashionable changes Of
the seasons in the matter of dress al
about one-third the expense incurred BY
her weather. neighbor. To be sure hel
stock of wearing apparel is not large,
but it is always stylish and attractive"
N. Y. Star.