The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-05-21
SHOP GIRLS OF LONDON.
They Arc Attentive and Better Cloth
Than Their Sisters In America.

SHOP GIRLS OF LONDON.
They Arc Attentive and Better Cloth ed
Than Their Sisters In America.
Leaving the girls behind his WOODEN
COULTER to decide what they shall cat
and drink at dinner, writes q London
correspondent, ! began tour OF the
place and was given IN opportunity to
tall. with any Of the employees desired
and to question them without the sur
vcn'ance of the young man who was
assigned to the duty of taking me
abpit. In every nook and corner there
waI aomc queer phase of this singular
life constantly 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.
Ono thing was always noticeable-that
was the neatncss in dress and the good
manners and politeness of the attend
ants. In most instances this was in
marked contrast to the half petulant
manner in which shop girls arc apt to
states. Then the uniformity in dress
among the women clerks il very at
tractivc. The tight-fitting black gowns,
relieved with white at the neck and the
wrists, set off their perfect figures to
pefection, and their good manners made
shopping pleasure instead OF a trouble.
Tidiness in dress, as well as politencss
in speech. are valuable requisites for
the English working girl, and they cul-
tivate these graces to the limit If they
want to succeed and keep their places.
How they dress and look SO well is .
puzzle to the American mind until care
full inquiry is made. The saleswomen
in the dress and cloak departments of
the great establishments like Whiteley' 3
or the ''sweller' shops in Regent or
Bond streets are the best dressed women
in England. save those who dress for
show in the afternoon and evening, with
plenty of means to indulge their tastes
for handsome garments. They wear
tight-fitting black silk gowns of rich
pattern, with demi-trains. They are
usually tall. fine-looking women and as
they go about their business they make
a very interesting contrast to the regu-
lar female customer who has run ont in
her morning gown to do a little shop
ping. They have tact. plenty of pa
thence, and, as 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.
1t is by no means easy to measuTe
and contrast the different classes Of
female labor as we find it here in the
United States. Nearly all the stores
where women are employed board their
help, both male and female. Rooms are
fitted up for their accommodation in the
upper stories and they are obliged to
accept the conditions the merchant inn
poses 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. provided with piano, library
with books and other arrangements for
the entertainment Of the girls after
working hours. Wine or beer is
usually served at dinner and some Of
the higher grades of employees have
their choice of beverages. In the larger
establishments the merchants encour-
age their people to form social clubs
and provide for them various kinds Of
amusements to help them pass away
the time. Lectures and smoking con-
certs are quite frequent and a great
deal of care is taken by the employer to
keep his help in good temper. The re-
strictions which this mode of life i'm
poses would be very obnoxious to an
American girl. In fact, few women in
our country would submit to the gem
eral arrangements that are here inn
posed for the control of those who
labor in shops. The doors of these
great lodging houses, as they may prop
erly be called, are closed at eleven
o'clock at night, and there is no admis.
sion after that hour. With this exccp-
ton there are no restrictions. and the
girls are at liberty to come and go rs
they please. The moral effect of this
housing Of large number Of young
women together may be questioned,
but it does not seem to disturb the
average conditions of English life. But
it would seem to an American to be
more or less demoralizing. 1t would be
in our country. but the lives of these
people seem to be SO settled that moth
ing affects them. They are not scrl-
Dusty disturbed by ambitions and appear
quite satisfied to remain clerks as long
as they are obliged to labor From
their standpoint, then, they are well
off, for they have no care as to where
they shall sleep or how they should get
something to eat.
The care with which merchant
looks after the physical welfare of his
working people is very interesting
phase of this Observation-Disclosures