New-York tribune., 1891-05-17
THE FIG URE.
THE GIRL WHO aTRIEs on

THE GIRL WHO "TRIES ON"
sI sometimes wish my good looks was in my face.s
said the pock marked girl It would be awful nica
to have my eyes blue instead of green, and my mouth
little instead of big However since that wasn't to
be So I'm glad amt scrawny as some girls that
amt bad looking in the face. Folks try TO comfors
me by saying there dozen pretty faces TO ons
real good figure, but the best consolation get is the
s12 week that my figure brings me in, now that
I've got place. II was just one inch taller I'd
have got one without any trouble but though 1 wear
the very highestlheeed shoes find still 1 amt
tall enough to suit of them. Who are themi
Why the bosses in cloak places, Of course fou don't
think pose for art classes, do youl Not much
don't I'm figure, not model. Cannot add a
cubit to my stature1 1 don't want TO add a cubt.
whatever that may be, to my stature, but
I'd like TO be Just an inch taller. I'm
all right In other matters-thirty eight inches
in the bust and twenty-three inches in the
waist with nicely sloping shoulders and longenough
neck-short necks are the trouble with good many
that would like to be figures, and good many more
are all right except for their big waists. Now
of the girls I'm laced tight because my waist is
small In comparison with my shoulders but 1t isn't
so; nobody ever saw me puff and pant as girls do
who tie one Of their corsetaces to the bedpost and
pull for all they worth on the other.
An easy berth I've goti Well. yes. it is easy
work in comparison with what some other girls have
to do for half the money but have the Of the
to be held responsible for all them highprced sacques
and wraps. And then the constant trying on IT'S
true my hours only from till 5, but earn my
Salary as well the black satin dresses that wear
in the shop Yes, OF course they furnish the dresses
I'D like to see myself, with salary of s12 week.
buying my own silks and satins, for they wear out
awful quick under the constant putting and
pulling off OF sacques and wraps. No, / don't
do any trying In the w0rkroom. Figures
are expected 10 do that in smaller establishments
but in our place is as much Us do 10 try on for
customers. Sometimes there will be as many as five
ladies' standing around waiting how sacQues that
they have took fancy to Will look on me- From 0
O'Clock till II is usually try and try on with hardly
any let up and sometimes I've been nearer fainttns
than any would think, but I've stood it out because
knew that fainting folks amt wanted In business. No.
| don't have TO stand stll ! almost always walk m
and down the to show of the things, and wlils
the customers are looking az NE and passing remarks
am expected 10 look Just sweet and smiling as one
OF the wooden dummies in the window matter what
they NAV be saying Not always complimentary
You lust ought 20 hear 'em Sometimes they will say
that everybody see / made-up figure or I
wouldn't be so stiff The square shouldercd sort say
that my shoulders slant too much, and what would ht
me wouldn't fit them. l should hope mott The stout
ones say that 1t is inhuman 10 keep me laced up so
tght-that I'd have twentyeight-Inoh waist II was
LET alone The awful tall they can't tell what
"A cloak really looks like when they IL on such q
souatty figure and some who walk like cows them
selves say they could form better Judgment of cloak
II they saw it on a graceful person I'd like 10 know
n ANYBODY but an actress could walk natural with so
many folks staring at her all at once Frown 'em
downq I darsn't. y figure has got TO look Just as
nretty as she can she'll be bounced and as matters
stand IL makes against me, tell you that amt
no better looking in the face.
~our business booming you thnkl Well. 1t Amt
had but of course you know there's dozen cloas tried
on for one that is sold, and sometimes none that's
sold Time and again I've tried cloak after cloak
for customers that had no more idea Of buying 'rm
than have Of buying the You may say II is
all In the days work aud hadn't ought 10 mind H.,
hut when the buyer c0ds the saesladles for not sell
Ing more coazs, some Of em has way OF blaming IA
their being and comfortable. and NJ the same
time light and stylish. I'D feel like IT, wouldn't l. saw
on hot day In september, prasng up Newmarket and
seaskln sacques. and such things that l'm nearly
sunOcated In les, VIC awful busy In September
selling our Imported articles 20 the buyers for small
stores and my work lasts later into the summer than
you might think; many folks buy when the season
Is over, so as 10 get things cheap. hardly ever 20
my vacation before the last week In June Sonfe OF
tie girls In our place say don't need vacation and
it's only fun 20 be wearing fine clothes all the time or
comes IN. like fine clothes well other folks but
there amt no satisfaction in putting em II they
don't belong 10 me- and having $500 selskin wrap on
my hack doesn't make forget that sunday sacque
cost only Sl6 and II buy silk dress this year n win
have 70 do NE another winter