The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-01-30
: Tae NEW YORK SHOP GIRL
Great Improvements In Her Condlsio.
Daring Rscent Years

=. Dur1nE hsrsnt 1sarA
II will be remembered that abou
eight years ago there was q popula
demand upon the storekeepers tha
tneir women clerks should be treates
more like human beings than as mer,
aitoma.ons, that they should be giver
SEATS behind the counters on which
they could rest themselves, and tha
they should have some apartment
wherein they could retire and secure
occasional rest from the constant
strain upon their nerves and theil
bodies. The general clanor for re
/ form IN this direction led 10 a mos
marked Improvement In the way in
/ which these young wonenwere treated
The change came slowly, but it came
al last, and now the p-oprietors of the
great stores have made admirable pro
visions for the comfort Of their EN-.
| pioyes
1t may have been observed by shop
pers that there is a marked improve.
Inent In the personnel of the girls en-
ployed in the big stores. Purchasers
| are treated with more courtesy. and
the interest in the purchaser is SO
manifest sometimes as TO be almost
amusing TO persons who have been in
the habit Of shopping in other cities.
This Is based upon very sound fnan-
clal reasons. Several of the big shops
have entered into an agreement with
their employees to give them a certain
percentage on their total daily, weekly
or monthly sales, small, it is true. in
each sale, but IN the aggregate a very
handsome addition to their salaries.
The result of this is a decided eager
ness on the part of the clerks to wait
upon the customers and an anxiety
that they shall be pleased. This is an
Improvement founded upon the inter
est Of both employer and employees.
and gives the latter an interest in their
work which deprives it of much of its
dpudgery.
The question Of seats in the stores
has been always an important one be-
cause Of the necessity for room in the
alsies between the counters and the
confined space within which the clerks
are obliged to work. But an incen-
lous inventor solved the problem by
providing queer little stool, which
resembles an artists sketching stoolan
many respects, though more solid
and comfortable. This in many stores
Is hinged to the lower part of the coun-
ter, and the rules of the store permit
any clerk when she is not actually en-
gagged in sale to use these stools at
Will. AS most of the shopping is done
between IL a. m. and 4. p. M, this
would seem to give the clerks five full
hours during which there is little
chance for rest, but this is obviated in
this way: The clerks in each depart
lment are divided into what on Ship
board would be known as watches.
During the busy hours in a depart
ment where there are fifteen clerks
not moro than twelve are, with few ex-
cephons, behind the counter at once. |
But these twelve are understood to do |
the full work of the fifteen, so that at |
hourly or fifteen minute intervals
hey may in turn have a rest.
Formerly the clerks were compelled
70 get a bite to eat whenever they
gould between the customers demands.
Now, however, things are changed so
mat each girl or set of girls has a half |
hour IN which they may eat their
neal IN quiet. Not only THE, but in
he bag stores a room is provided for
hem with tables and condiments
where they have almost as many COM
orts as they would have at home.
these rooms are usually in the base
neents, for the employers are COM
'elled as rule to utilize every bit of
pace above ground that they can Sc
ure, but they are kept clean and COM
ortable by women who also care for
pc cleanliness of the main store.
here IS, however, one exception. in q
'reat store in Fourteenth street in
which the clerks are not obliged to 90
.elow ground to eat their luncheons.
Here they are given big apartment
pstalrs, where they have all thefresh
If they desire, and also the opportu-
llty to obtain warm food from the adj
AGENT restaurant.
30 far as the accommodations for
torlng wraps and any little valuables :
7hich the clerks may have some de-
ire to keep in safety while they are
tending to their duties, they are pro-
lded In most stores by small rooms
mere these things may be kept under 6
'ck. and key, and which answer at =
1e same time as dressing rooms
here the clerks may keep a store
ress, and in the morning change their
rect costume for it, to a very mani
sst saving of the latter.
The routine of the employment of
ersons in the great stores is based E
a great extent upon civil service
rinciples. The department chief is
'iected because of his Or her peculiar
tness for the position. But none of
lese vice regents of the proprietor is
wen power of dismissal over an en-.
ooye who has been more than year
the store. Each one of these has the
ght to be heard, and if the excuses
e satisfactory the person complain
g must give good reasons before
ey are discharged. Another thing
at goes far toward making the shop
ri more content with her lot is that
several of the stores her wages are
'arly increased in proportion to her
ne OF service. New York Times.