New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-16
COUNTER TRIALS,
TIE sHOP-GIRL SPEAKS,

"Ahh feel as If my feet had gone to Heavenls
said the sales girl, she exhibited a number three
foot In number five slipper. 81 get solid comfort
ont Of these old slippers when / home In the
evening with my feet hurting can hardly stand4
shoes too tight Not a bit Of il Ny shoes are always
too large for me. but standing all day swels my
feet and mancs them painful.
The first day went into the store I thought
I'd die before O'Clock, but get used TO any,
thing except being scolded-that | never can get
used to. matter how long may stay in the store.
Why am 20 naughty as TO need scoldingl 1t amt
me that's naughty, it's the customers. l do get 50
mad sometimes that could Jump over the counter
and Leaf em! They amt got notion Of buying
when they come in. but all the they want
to this. that and the other thing. and they
make take down box after boz, and then they
stand there. worrying the life out OF me. asking no
ED of questions and crowding out other folks who
might buy if they could only get chance; ann when
airs said and done they walk away without my
making sale, and then ! get scoding from ona
Of the bosses. Which one Well. most always it's
buyer. | spoke back to him the other dayt
says l. 1T takes smarter girl than NE 10 mako folks
buy when they ant got money to buy WITH
Why, bless your heart Sometimes women, wearing
hats and wraps that I'd be ashamed to be seen in,
Will como TO my counter and make me show 'em
my highest priced laces. They amt the only kind.
though. that only come to look. There's them in
sealskin sacqucs and $50 bonncts who will spend
honrs in store and 90 ont without buying penny's
worth Thcm's the sort that make me nervous when
they around because get my awfulest seedlings
on their account. s'pose It's fun for them TO como
and see what we've got and then go on to see what
they've got in other stores, but il amt no fun Tor The
girls who ARE expected to make sales
"Oh. me If here Amt place on my sleeve that's
mos. worn through. I'll have get new dress fon
the store. II had my way abcnt 1t I'd get one
for sunday and my blue cashmere in the storos
but I'd have get dyed first. and hate 10 have
drcs, dyed when there aint nothing the matter with
IT, Wear it a il i oh. dear, no! That wouldn't
lie allowed We are expected to dress either in blacb
or in some grave color that don't make no show.
Black is what they like best and that Is why nave
lived in this old thing long. In common stores the
young ladies may wear all the coors OF the RAINBOW.
but it,, different in a hrstclass establishments Az
ono time there was talk of our having TO give up
orr hangs. bnt | gless they thought better of II.
Are we expected 10 lie professionally : What %
Won mean by that OH get of goods on customers
Well some OF the young ladies VIII do 1t because us
I'm ,n, and they can't help IT, but lies amt paid extra
for a; in some stores where girl gets commission
ON her sales of ontof-,tylc wraps and Things Eni-
lloycr, Christian men Hon Know a. our oo onc,
ere extra Christian but h.n ols "a e e' o S, stor,
thar lying wasn't bu'ncs'hAc; iou SIC o 80, sto
La, reputation 10 keep up IaiN ABOUT SAFES iauie,
SAYING what Amt So you o"Sh, 10 near 'ne wnter
v hen | IN the cloak uepa.tuen, ~. Nh d;t
VT. every day sending OIL goods I. o. ~; INA. ul'
when they said they'd take them, h"u 10 '''o'e "es
Of paving for tlcn than mas. ,, ,ho,. will TN,
let people say WHAT .hes VIII -,
sure there's them that come To iuy that's st,>cr tna
.n> of them mat sell. My. how sick and t!ied
cd to get ni irving after >iclne on outoicr
and when ia tell hcr il a perfect III hdNlhS hct
AK me if called wrinkles tit or course stoIne
viii he fi,ll of wrinkles when a woman Il t"istnt
a,a,ud in front ~ the mirror trying 10 sec het Owl
hack ON m, sacred word of honor rye urea 'n,rev
s,,nuc, ON on. customer and then. aiter her ttuIs
nm INV time fot TWO hours or more ana MAYBE Pre-
,tr,finc nv getting my lunch TIL half past . IN INC
of,s,,,on she'd 80 away saying tiat ptupioH s"cu
,n,n, len o.u the ncNt day. and then Shc hopeu shI
,v,ma have /, more ohligins young woman To wall
lac
t.,himd thr counter. putting away some lace, whss
,hr t,~i thing | knew. somebody pokeh me IN tna
t a.. i,b "A great umbrella. and when looked up tha
, tomcr that done il began business by threatening
T., r,pnr me for lnattcniion. -. 4. 4. "a
ali ! toVc 70 put up with. nobody ought to grvdge
80, 80, mo go n week. \ fair salary you say1 les;
me ny, my ~ j. know it Is twice large as what
r rrls eel in common stores. but then in cominon
stores they employ common SiFl'