The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-02-08

company, theatrical ticket Office, livery
stable. undertakers' shop, brass band, sing
ers, actors, chiropodists, BARRIERS, and in
fact every sort of thing needful to the
human family. He prides himself that no
customer can send an order TO him for any
thing in the werld that he will not furnish
him, even to a wife.
he TAKES ABSOLUTE CHARGE
Of your household affairs, and unless you
choose you need not have any concern about
your larder, wine cellar or residence except
TO pay the bills when he renders them.
His buildings in which he carries on his
vast dealings cover acres of ground. 1t
was in such place and surrounded by such
an atmosphere as this that began to study
the conditions of the average shop girl of
this great metropolis. The character of
wages paid, and the general conduct of the
business is marvel and one of the greatest
curiosities of commercial life in the world.
There is nothing like it in our own country
and could not be because our people prefer
to look after the daily routine of their fam
lily affairs rather than to trust it to ''gen-
eral provider." We have larger stores, but
none directed upon such novel plan as
Whiteley's.
Leaving the girls behind his wooden coun-
ter TO decide what they shall eat and drink
at dinner l began tour of the place and
was given an opportunity to talk with any
of the employees desired and to question
them without surveillance of the young man
who was assigned to the duty of taking me
about. In every nook and corner there was
some queer phase of this singular life con-
stantly presenting itself, running all the
way from the highest class of dry goods to
the place where they kept dogs, birds and
other live stock for sale. One thing was
always noticeable. that was the neatness in
n md ha
of the attendants. In most instances this
was in marked contrast to the half petulent
manner in which shop girls are apt to wait
upon customers IN the United States.
Then
THE UNIFORMITY IN DRESS
among the women clerks is very attractive
The tight-htting black gowns relieved with
white at the neck and the wrists set off
their perfect figures to perfection and their
good manners make shopping pleasure
instead of a trouble. Tidiness in dress as
well as politeness in speech are valuable
requisites for the English working girl, and
they cultivate these graces to the limit if
they want to succeed and keep their places
How they dress and look so well is puz-
zle to the American mind until careful in
curry is made. The saleswomen in the
dress and cloak department of the great
establishments Ike Whiteleys or the
sweller shops in Regent or Bond street are
the best dressed women in England save
those who dress for show in the afternoon
and evening with plenty of means to in
dulge their tastes for handsome garments.
They wear tight-titting black silk gowns of
rich patterns with demi- trains. They are
usually tall, fine looking women, and as
they 60 about their business they make a
very interesting contrast to the regular
female customer who has run out in her
morning gown to do a little shopping. They
have tact, plenty of patience and, as a rule,
good knowledge of human nature. They
are brought into contact with all classes of
people, and if they did not learn something
it would be remarkable. What is true of
the women workers at Whiteley's is also
true of those who work in any of the stores.
use Whlteley's as an example because it
is such typical place and the starting
point of my Investigations into the habits.
conditions and control of large number of
women in the United Kingdom.
1t is by no means easy to measure and
contrast the
DIFFERENT CLASSES OF FEMALE LABOR
as we find it here and IN the United States.
| Nearly all the stores where women are en-
ployed board their help, both male and fe-
male. Rooms are fitted up for their accom-
modations in the upper stories and they are
obliged to accept the conditions the mer-
chant imposes, unless they happen to be
married. Then they are permitted to sleep
at home with an extra allowance for room
rent. There is usually large parlor pro-
vided with piano, library with books