Wichita eagle., 1888-01-26
CASH BOYS AND GIRLS.
vHE CHANCES WHICH THEY HAVE
IN THE BATTLE OF LIFE.

IN THE BATTLE OF LIFE.
Thousands Of These Children in the Dry
Goods Houses-Hard Rules to be OBJ
the Notice Of Reformers.
Rat tat tat!
The origin Of this sound was the blunt end
of lead pencil in the hands of young lady
in an up town dry goods store. She was a
saleswoman. OF, begging the young persons
pardon, a saleslady, if she will consent to use
the word salesgentleman when speaking of
her male Wis Wis who dances attendance
on customers on the opposite side of the
room. The taps on the counter were the
| modern substitute for the exclamation leash -
/ formerly uttered TO call the attention of the
salesman's devil. They were hardly given in
this case before several Urchins materialized
! from among the wilderness of skirts that
| filed the possageway, and, shouting certain
| talisina1-ic numbers, they stood before the
conjuring witch. What followed it will be
| necessary to tell TO no feminine reader who
has seen her money disappear over a dry
goods counter.
There must be several thousands of these
interesting children, male and female. known
under the generic name of Cash in the CITY
of New York at this time. Rejecting on the
number of dry goods houses on Broadway,
Twenty-third street, Sixth avenue, Four
| teen-h street and Grand street, and the num-
Der employed by all the leading firms, it
| IS even possible to estimate the total at
1900 or 5000. They represent great indus
try, of which the object is chiefly consump-
ton. They stand, also, on the lowest round
Of the mercantile ladder, and some are des-
tined to mount until they become clerks, su-
perintendents ard prop1Ietors. Others again.
will be fated to fall by the way, or, belong
ing to the gentler sex, they will float off and
perform matter of fact roles in domestic
dramas. They are now leading lives of con-
siderable hardship. They look bright and
cheerful in the morning. heavy at MONDAY,
ard sometimes jaded in the evening To
persons familiar with th3habits of children
and who reflect on their ability to play fif-
teen hours on the stretch without any appa-
rent sense of fatigue, this declaration NAV
sound like waste of sympathy But sonlc-
how there is world of difference between
work and even the kind of recreation which
taxes the muscles more severely than work.
Cash girls and boys are usually the chill
dren of parents who are not able to live
without turning all their reso:rces into the
market. These children do not seek the situ-
alton Of their own free will, and they often
hold 1t very much against their will Ask
them how they like their employment, and
they will not always give cheerful answer.
They speak Of the hard rules which they are
obliged to observe and OF the fines which
merchants think it necessary to impose to
maintain discipline. In the largest stores
the pay OF cash girl is only $50 per week,
sum that may be increases to s.. so Der
week by closer attention and greater activi-
ty. But even this small amount is liable to
a considerable reduction through the inhic-
ton of penalties. Perhaps the cash girls ex-
aggerate; perhaps, in the innocence of souls
inherently truthful, they sometimes tell fibs.
They are occasionally sent home, they say. at
the end of week with no more than fifty
cents in their pockets. The poor dears think,
too, that they are often imposed upon. and
even made the scapegoats for their elders.
who have reached the age of feminine per
fection, and can do no wrong. 1t is conven-
lent to have cash girl at hand to charge
with the loss Of articles which have disap-
been sold.
But these are only the girls The cash boy
is moro demonstrative and aggressive
creature than the cash girl, and it is to be
that he fares better. The place to
zee him at his best is ct a store where he is
paid according to the service rendered Here
ne is like high ofticer-a deputy sheriff, for
draws his salary in fees, and
whose profits depend on his activity. The
cash boys in one store of this sort number ur
TO a maximum company of infantry, 100
strong, ana champion club of football |
players could net be more active We are !
jold that at this store cash Joys earn az much |
as 81 week, and that none earns less than |
., a fact which speaks we'll for the liberality |
II the iirm. They make a boast too, at this |
tore of the number of faithful boys who |
lave been promoted to the various depart
nents Of the house. Some of the employees |
Who began in this humble sphere have been
Is many as thirteen years in service
The qualifications demanded for the ser
ice are not necessarily Of very high order.
As for personal Recommendations it is to be
presumed that only sufficiently good looking
'oys and girls need apply. Looking at some
# the dry goods warehouses fronting on
everal streets, with exits everywhere, and
backed with customers, one would suppose
hat it might be necessary to give bonds
'efore being permitted to enter the service
t looks entirely feasible for any disconnected
ash TO indemnify himself for unjust fines
" slipping away with money enough in his
ands to buy ar outfit for an Indian hunting
ampaign at the west. But since no attempt
/ the kind was ever reported, we have TO
onclude that cash boys and girls all come
rom the stock which is proverbially honest
ecause it is poor.
his Is one Of the few vacations which have
OF yet attracted the attention of thu social
gItators. Neither he's it como under the sur
elllance of the Society for the Prevention of
ruelty to Children. Yet it cannot be denied
lat 1T is capable of furnishing topics for all
orts OF reforiners. Cash is exactly of the age
hen he ought TO be at school nine months in
re year. But in lieu of walking in the paths
instruction he must run only in the ways
lat lead from the counter to the cashiers |
esk, and there is not much of knowledge to
e gathered by the way. Hours before the
ME when other rosy checked children are 10 |
met II frolicsome groups, vending their
ay to the school room, he may be discovered |
auding III line before the closed doors of the |
arehoase, waiting for the opening: and.
Rough be may look cheerful and conte,ted
lough in childish thoughtleSsness. we know
lat he Is preparing the way for future regret
Id humiliation. True. there is the night .
hool: but az the end of long day of intense
'tivity. at something which is not play but
Try hard work, we are not to presume that I
viii take kindly to study, or drink very
'eply Of the high; draught chiefly composed /
residing, riting, and 'rithlnetic, which Will {
offered for his mental nurture. We all |