St. Paul daily globe., 1888-06-17


~ ssJsGE5Yover other kinds of
wOrk?" / asked.
-A You see it's more
~~ genteel than factory
work. A clerk can
always be dressed neat and pretty; it's
pleasanter to handle fancy goods and
see people coming and going all day
than be shut up in hot factory. Then
people call you a saleSlady, and it
sounds more high-toned thanworking
girl or servant"
| wasn't much impressed by my
friends argument, because there was a
of weeks experience at clerking in
one OF the large dry goods stores during
the holidays. 1t wasn't wholly pleas
ant remembrance.
sit seemed to me that we worked
about fourteen hours a day, were
dOcked for being late, had to have our
baskets o. KID before going home-in
fact any number of diSagreeable things
happened, | said refectively.
''It isn't fair to judge of the work by
your experience during the holidays,
because they work longer hours during
that time, and the new girls who only
expect to stay couple of weeks see the
hardest side of the life," she replied.
store and you'll like it better"
| was willing to try it, ''but I'll look
through all the stores," was my mental
comment: ''Of course a person of my
ability can have an opportunity to
select her own place and I'll take the
best of the lot.o l changed my mind
on that subject in short time.
Along Nicollet avenue the many dry
goods and millinery stores formed
tempting array. made my first appli-
cation at store on Nicollet avenue.
The store is pleasant and spacious.
Their clerks seemed quite contented.
The ordinary working hours here, as in
other large stores, are from 8 in the
morning until in the evening, except
on Saturday, when they work until
late in the evening. l could not see
that seats were furnished SO that en-
ployeS could rest when not busy, but
the only complaint that l heard came
from one of the gentlemen clerks; he
thought it quite tireSome to stand all
day.
found the manager and asked not
for work but position"
''Have you had any eXperience?' he
asked.
mo, SIR" replied, resolutely crowd
ing out OF memory my former short eX-
perience.
''Then it's almost useless to ask for
work." he said, "for we have now a list
of applications that will supply all the
help we need for the next year. MANY
of those on that list are experienced and
also recommended, and of course they
have the first chance"
''Then you don't hire girls who want
to learn?" asked.
"Yes, occasionally we do, if they come
recommended by one of our good Gus
TONER'S"
'What wages do you pay them?'
'About 81 a week until we think they
as we see fit. Some of the girls in our
employ now earn as high as $40 and s12
a week."
"HOw many years have they been
working for you?" asked.
'Oh, four or five years, probably. Our
help, if they give satisfaction, always
stay with us until they get married or
save enough to retire from business as
old maids.''
1t struck me that their tastes must be
simple and easily gratified if they could
save anything out of $40 or S12 a week
after spending as much for fine raiment
as many of them do. The girls were not
at all talkative in this store. They looked
OuSly and would have naught to do with
me.
Taking the hint, wore my best dress
and mOstimpressive air during the rest
of my Investigations.
1t was tiresome work. In every store
there were multitude of applicants.
Some of them didn't need to work at
all; didn't care what the wages were:
they only wanted to clerk so as to get
away from the restrictions of home or
school and have jolly time, as they
expressed it. Others, claiming that
they couldn't do rough work, were
in order to keep up appearances.
l could soon recognize the latter class
on sight. They fairly infest the stores,
anXlouSly waiting some opening; even
willing to work without pay for awhile
for the remote possibility of being able
to make living wages afer a year or
two.
At another Nicollet avenue store they
did not need help, and the manager told
me that he paid 81 week for about the
first year.
IF you have your living to earn" he
said, Its of no use to try clerking, be-
cause you'd starve to death. Our new
clerks are those who live at home.
money"
The clerks in this store don't let any
grass grow under their feet. They are
always in rush, and either too tired or
afraid to talk about their work. l found
one, however, who told me she received
81 a week and lived on it. She hired
room in company with three other girls.
They paid S. mouth rent, boarded
themselves at cost of 81 week each.
did their own washing, ironing and
sewing after or before working hours.
The girl who told me this was neatly
dressed, and would not have guessed
from her appearance that it cost her
such desperate struggle to exist.
went home with her. 1t was thirty
two blocks from the store. [ carelessIy
remarked: 'Let's take car; it's too
hot to walk so far"
She flushed painfully as she explained
that she always walked becruse car fare
would amount to 60 cents week, and
she couldn't afford it.
She lived on the second floor in a room
10x15 and about seven feet high; there
was one window in the room. Here
four girls ate. slept, cooked, washed,
ironed and sewed. The girl looked
thoroughly worn out; she had been