Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-21
WHY SOME GIRLS WORK.
VARIOUS REASONS OTHER THAN
ACTUAL NECESSITY.
Expensive Taste in Dress Creates an In
clination to Labor-A Desire
For Occupation.
New York Star.


human nature. At the earliest hours
crowds of well and fashionably dressed
women, ro5ed often in more tasteful attire
than that affected by the major portion
of the female promenaders of the after
noon, pass up and down the thoroughfare,
and one is lead to wonder if they are
sagacious shoppers, avoiding the crowds of
the late-comers that will jostle each
other in an endeavor to reach the bargain
counter, or society's danes out for morn
ing constitutional
They are neither. They are part of
the force that 90 to make millionaires of
dry goods merchants, and are for the most
part what,is termed in their own vernacular,
'salesladies."
Blondes there are of every conceivable
type, from the bue-eyed variety with
complexion like a mold of blanc mango
touched up with cranberry jelly, and hair
like silk floss, to the soft, brown-eyed dar-
ling, whose hair was merely light col
ored," and the representatives of the bru-
nette style of beauty, ate equally numer-
Gus. Here are three dark-eyed beauties,
neat and wholesome to the very finger tips
of the single unglo7ed hand of one of
them their handsome figures robed in
stylishly-lnade gowns of black. What
might be termed a saucy nose denote a
kinship, and they are probably sisters. A
blonde with a fresh, rosy complexion, next
passes She is dressed in dark blue, with
hair line stripes of red about the bottom
of the skirt and adorning the front of the
dress and the cuffs, while hat to match,
with red roses tastefully arranged, COM
pletes a costume that for style could not be
excelled. Nearly all look prosperous and
happy. Occasionally one appears whom
soul-harrowing economy has compelled the
covering of her last summers straw" with
cloth to be worn as winters hat; and
now the economists savings not being in as
advanced a condition as the season, it is
doing RUNNER service. She wears the
headgear with sort of shamefaced per-
verseness that contrasts strongly with the
light-hearted airiness of the greater por-
ton of the throng.
A reporter was particularly struck by
the appearance of these earnest women,
and one, perfect Hebe, so caught his at
tention that greater knowledge of sales
ladies for the benefit of thousands who
know nothing of their lives, was deter
mined upon, but to get one Of them to
speak was difficulty. A start was made
when later in the day the reporter found
himself at the Furnishings" counter of a
large dry goods store on Broadway, with
the Hebe Of the morning displaying neck
ties for his inspection. Ali efforts at con-
yersation were met by monosylabic re-
plies that were very discouraging, and
throwing aside all attempt at diplomacy,
the reporter yentured the query:
GLOW much are you paid per week for
your serYices?"
1t had an effect.
''People who know their business and
can attend to it are valuable, and should
get as high as $50 or $40. / suppose you
do not get more than 81" And deliver
ing herself of this shot, she handed a mes
senger that responded to her call the re-
porter's purchase, and began occupying
ht self with the task of replacing the
goods displayed.
After an apology and an explanation
the young woman consented to talk, and
appointed her luncheon time as the most
convenient.
Seated at table with an ice-cream soda
in front Of her, she said 81 do not sup
pose the position of saleslady is particu-
larly hard one, only, perhaps, a little con-
fning, and after one gets used to the dis
cipline and the long hours, the work be-
comes less of drudgery and more to ones
liking. True, our patience is often sorely
tried, as was the case some weeks ago
so many strangers in town, attracted by
the Centennial celebration, who visited
the stores as they would museum or a
circus, and for the same reason, merely to
see the sights and ask questions, never TO
buy, or, if they made any purchase, it was
at the smallest possible outlay"
What induces young ladies to become
sale5ladiesw
"A dozen girls would probably give as
many different reasons, but the principal
one is wish to be employed. Almost
every young woman who arrives at the age
when she thinks and acts a great deal for
herself casts about for something to do
something of a congenial nature to occupy
her mind. Particularly is this true of
young ladies who have good education,
are possessed of some style and whose
parents are in comfortable circumstances.
Household duties are distasteful, for the
reason that mother has always taken care
of that detail, and so day after day passes
over their heads in sheer idleness, until
life becomes almost unbearable and in
desperation situation is sought and OBJ
tanned. Others seek the employment for
its pecuniary remuneration, for the object
OF dress or support of dependent relatives.
The lady in charge of the stock opposite
the counter where you made your purchase
supports a mother and two young sisters
on SD per week, and dresses in style, too.
How she manages il is an enigma | would
not undertake to solve. There are many
SO situated-that is, with others looking to
them for support. Sometimes it is a
father or brother. | know Of two in
stances where husbands are the benefciaries
Of their wives industry. Marriage is not
a failure for those worthless.
'The pay of salesladies usually ranges
from S. per week for beginners to $50 per
week for persons in charge Of stock or at
the head of departments; long terms Of
service and theresponsibility Of or the care
of the stock Of the department, together
with something of knowledge of the
market, determining the amount paid
above the average OF 50 per week for ex-
pert selling talent The lady in charge Of
our department had been with the firm
nearly eight years, and the greater part Of
the time had received but 50 per week.
Three weeks since the former "head" mar
ried, and she was promoted to the position
at SIS per week. Quite an accident, YOU
see, that she was ever advanced. 1t hap
pened in this way: Last December man
came in who said he was from Aspen. CoI
and wanted socks similar to those he had
bought at the same counter the winter be-
fore The goods were not in stock, and, as
in such instances, the matter was referred
to the head of the department to see If
the goods could be gotten on the market
The Judge-we afterward learned that
was his title-was instantly smitten,
and his reply to the head of the
department. when She asked him 70