The Washington critic., 1890-01-31
THE SHOP GIRLS PERIL.
THE SURREPTlTlcuS NOTE AND
ITS DlREFUL MISSION.

what Prominent Merchant says |
About tho Young Sa 'eswomen In
His Employ-They Are, with Few |
Exceptions, Honest and Intelligent.
An honest man is one Of the noblest |
works Of God but surely an honest
woman is another, and none more hon
est is there than that class of dutiful,
patient, self-sacrihcing women bread
winners found in many of the large cs-
Establishments of the city. This class is
largely, very largely, in the majority In
Washington. Probably in no instance
is any other kind allowed to stand be
hind counter after her true character
becon es known to the proprietor. Yet.
it appears that here and there mny be
found certain young girls, scarcely out
of their giddy teens, whose inexperience
leads them into indiscretions, which, Ii
not speedily checked, leads to their ruin.
TIE KIND OF GIRLS THEY ARE.
These girls are always young, or they
would know better, and generally
pretty. Their pareDtage is good; some
times they have even been reared In
luxury, but through adverse circun-
stances find themselves obliged to seek
an honest means of livelihood. They
may be good enough parlor musicians,
but they find piano teaching overdone
and an ordinary musical education,
probably better than their own, obtain.
able in the public schools. Fancy
work is out Of the question, because i'm
proved looms are turning out lace that
sells at fifteen cents for yard that the
poor young lady couldn't make in n
week. patient labor. The whole In
digent female world seems to have re-
solved itself into type-writers and stem
ographers, so, rs last desperate resort,
she obtains position in some light
manufacturing establishment or store
TWO WAYS OPEN.
If she is painstalling and discreet
she soon gains the confidence of her
employer, and while her duties are
laborious, her hours many and her
compensation meagre, she finds herself
in respectable place, with pleasant
surroundings and fixed income suili-
cient to supply herself with economical
nccessaries. But, if she is vain of her
share of good looks, fond of male ut.
tentions and delights in public amuse-
ments, the pestilential dude invariably
appears upon the scene, bent upon
conquest, and ever ready to encourage
designations after business hours, which
can culminate only to the disadvantage
of the fair shop girl. Soon the dappel
young fellow gets to sending notes by
mail which come with the firms let
ters. Then he takes to dropping in oc
i, casionallv during the hours that busi
I ness is slack for quiet little chat, ol
an engagement for clandestine meet
ing, or a theatre engagement.
THE sURREPTITIoUs NOTE.
The mother and the brothers aut
sisters know nothing aboutit of course
because the masher is we'll aware if h,
was to present himself at the girls
humble home he would be ordered
away, but the employer has had hi
suspicious aroused, and, finally, th,
girl receives a curt note saying that he
services are no longer required
while her empty headed persecuto
abruptly abandons her for fresh con
quests.
A gentleman recently entered a cer
tain store on Seventh street and asket
for a razor-strop. Behind the counte
were couple of young women, who's
countenances bore unmistakable trace
of good looks, but all color had fade
from their cheeks, their hair wa
combed very low upon their forehead'
and their large and handsome eyes she
at him a look that was impudent, if NJ
bold.
Receiving no reply, he repeated hi
request. One of the women then car,
fully shifted some chewing gum int
the hollow of her face, leaned over
her companion and whispered in h,
ear and then whistled: "Where did yo
,, get that hat?" The gentleman beat
hasty retreat
WHAT A LOCAL MERCHANT SAYS.
A prominent merchant on + sire
told a CRITIC man that he had heal
of much trouble in New York with
male clerks on account of the numb
and persistence of male mashers in TIL
city, but during his experience he h
- had no fault to find of this kind. |
e said that his clerks were all ladies, al
4 that he was very careful to employ
: other kind; but, of course, if he we
|. deceived and found it out, he would n
h keep the offender an hour. He al
s said he had heard no complaint fro
e other merchants. Two other merchar
said much the same thing, but the ma
ager of another establishment admit
J. that he had heard the evil mention
n discussed between certain merchants,
# "Frivolity and business do not so
:. gether." he said. "and / will dischar
70 a girl for receiving notes and Wis
n from characterless men just as prompt
&c as ] will discharge man for receivi
~ attentions from woman of the sar
"a class. A number of letters have col
" to girls in my employ in care of
firm. We make it a rule not to
tyranical. but If letters continue to col
st 10 a young woman we always call |
40 aside and tell her that we cannot recei
\, letters for her in our care, and | thi
~ ii would be well if other firms foll
y our example, because an employer
=, doing a girl kindness in refusing
!, allow her to receive letter which s
,n tn is afraid to have come to the home
~ her parents.
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ty cents.
II AS an anodyne Salvation Oil has
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