The morning call., 1890-04-27
"IF 1 KEPT STORE"

How TO Become Successful Merchant.
XGjE1ELL, I've been shopping to-day"
0fAEE9 said lady to a representative of
SMG.S THE CALL, land am so eager to
give my ideas to somebody as to what /
should do If l kept store"
Her listener at once took occasion to as
sure her of the closest attention, and upon
that the lady began.
"Of course l know that it has passed
into proverb that those who have been
merely dabsters at anything feel better
able to formulate rules of conduct than
those who have gwen lifetime to the prac-
tice of what with them is only an ill-con-
sidered theory. 1t is well-known fact that
no children are so we'll brought up as those
who have been SO fortunate as to have some
old maid or an old bachelor for a trainer.
Therefore, reasoning from that line of
thought, perhaps what | think on the sub
| Ject Of store-keeping may be very pre-
sumptuous, but, at the same time, it is how
it is viewed by many a woman besides NY
self.
I'm the first place, if 1 kept store, /
should never have the doors closed except
in severe weather. Remember, am speak
ing now of what is attractive TO an intend
ing purchaser. Nothing more quickly puts
damper on my spirits than to be con-
fronted by closed door, without any one
to open it. Somehow | always feel in
dignant that | should have to struggle with
latch. Happily for this portion of my
complaint most of the stores station small
boy at each entrance And, by the way.
that is an excellent idea. so much in vogue
during the winter, to have our wet um-
brellas taken from US the mo-
ment we enter store. They generally
are dripping wet. and in our very
natural desire to stand them in such
manner that they will not drip upon our
garments, we are so likely TO set them
against our neighbours, which is neither
kind nor Christian. Besides, l think that
with check in ones hand, purse or hand
satchel one is not so apt to go off and leave
an umbrella. If by any chance l have ever
left the store without retaining my UNI
brella, which, by the way, would be a hard
thing to do, as the boy at the door always
asks for the check and so reminds depart
ing patron of his property. yet, as | was
going to say, If by any chance L should es-
cape his watchfulness. as soon as l have
realized my loss all that is necessary to do
is to return to the store and reclaim the
silken rod.
Now, if l kept store. or had the controlling
interest in one, think that l should offer q
large prize to the inventor who would de-
wise folding seat, which, when not needed,
could be shut up so that 1t would not take
up any more room than, well, than one of
those folding music-stands which travelling
musicians carry about with them. This
would attach to the counter in some way. or
to the supports of the shelves behind the
counter. Then, whenever the girls, who,
By the way, should be just as lady-like as
possible. were waiting upon custom
srs, these seat forms could be out of
the way. Just as soon as lull in
the business rush should come, each girl
should be compelled to take the iron fold
ing seat out into position and sit down.
am sure that the new zest and spirit which
the brief rest would put into them would
result in doubling their efficiency as sales
women. No woman can contemplate with
out horror the thought of those poor girls
being forced to remain in standing posi-
tiOn for so many hours at a stretch, Violat-
ing every law Of their physical well-being."
Another reform that | should try to in
augurate, II l kept store, would be to try to
break up that, TO customer, most annoy
ing interest which the men and women
clerks seem to take in each other"
To do that" interrupted her interested
listener, wouldn't you have to revolution
ize human nature? In fact, to make 1t all
over againp'
well, hardly think that wish to be
quite so radical as all that" was the reply.
given with hearty laugh. 81 see l shall
have to explain myself further. 1t is very
exasperatlng to me to be kept waiting when
am in hurry-and, by the way, you ought
to know me well enough to know that am
always in hurry--to be kept waiting while
a couple of clerks finish their filtration. It
is deeply interesting, no doubt, and wish
it every success, but must confess / don't
enjoy being regarded as disagreeable in
terruption to be disposed of with scant
ceremony.
"And right here I think / might say
something about the air that SO many clerks
put on, women clerks l mean, when thew
happen 10 be waiting upon a woman. There
is happy medium between servile atten-
ton and discourteous brusqueness. / do
feel so kindly disposed toward the girls.
Int can Won belioYe il. | hardly siara RI COZ,
one word to them for fear OF a snub. and so
/ do my errand in silence and pass out"
again, as a store-keeper, should i'm
press it upon all my clerks to show proper
interest in a customers wants aud not give
decided answer on any subject without