Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-03-09
PROFESSIONAL scAPEGOATS.


Every Day six Days in the week
professional scapegoat' does not
appear among the thousands OF occu-
nations which designate the manner
of employment Of the inhabitants OF
this city as classified in the Phlladel-
phia directory. More than one man
whose name appears there graced by
the simple but comprehensive word
CLERK, " IL, if the truth were known,
fully entitled to classification as
professional scapegoat.
There is more than one that Is paid
q substantial salary by large houses
for no other occupation than taking
upon his shoulders the blame for all
the misdeeds of the establishment
and suffering the supposed loss Of hls
situation at the rate of dozen tunes
a day. OF as much oftener as occasion
NAV REQUIRE. Being discharged a
half dozen times a day without once
losing his position, and at the same
time being well paid for the peculiar
performance. Is indeed a novel idea
This is how it Is done:
A lady makes a purchase Of several
articles, all of which are to be sent
to her address as given, before a Ger
tain hour, without fail The follow
ing day the customer returns and IN
her own sweet way proceeds to tear
out the floor manager or proprietor,
as it may be. because the goods failed
to arrive at the promised hour. The
story is patiently heard, and the word
is passed along for Smith. Smith
makes his appearance with a coun-
tenance professionally penitent and
submissive.
Smith. the manager begins, you
wsTa instructed to send this lady s
goods to the address given you before
4o'clockF
yes, sir, is Smiths plaintive re
ply, Out
Never mind an explanation. I'M
derstand. Your neglect caused the
delay and has risked the loss of one
of our best customers. We cannot
put up with your carelessness any
longer. You may go to the Office and
get your pay"
Smith steals away with a ready
made crestfaIlen look upon his face.
Madam. IregTet the occurrence OF
such an unnecessary blunder, but as
sure you it viii not happen again
surely not from that man, and
madam takes her departure fully
satisfied that she has had her revenge
Another irate customer appears OF
the scene. This time the trouble Is
with a suit of furniture which haC
been purchased a week before as Il
perfect order but has already begun
to show signs Of approaching disso
luton. The aggTieved purchases
opens on the manager. who at one,
sends for the man who takes th'
blame" and opens his usual pro
gramme.
How is this, sir9 What do yol
mean by sending out goods in such
condition7 You have been repeated
~ told not 70 permit any goods b
leave your department unless in per
feet order. This is not the first tim
this has happened. but it viii be tn
last. Go TO the Office and get you
pay; we have no further use for you
services.
Madam, ! am very sorry that 20
should have been 80 deceived by on
Of our statesmen. We cannot yer
well take back the furniture after
has been used, but we viii send
man 20 your house TO put it in prope
shape" and the lady goes on he
way satisfied that she has receive
justice.
The man who takes the blame
next discharged for overcharging
making a sale Of silk dress good
He then suffers TRADE Of abus
and is also 10 go because he has so
a set Of fine cbsna without calliI
the attention Of the purchaser to Sc
eral little defects. And so it 60
from morning to night, day after da
week in and week out The pc
fellow is made TO suffer for all q
sins of the entire establishment, fro
the manager down to the errand be
1T is somewhat strange said
floor walker. but the fact is tn
many people are satisfied TO put
with considerable inconvenience
they can only be revenged by seei
some one discharged Sometiu
when we bring out our man who tai
the blame, the customer ventures
suggest that he is not the man W
waited on her but we insist that
is, and the man adds his own ass
ton, and in nine cases out of ten
customer is convinced. Very {
people take enough notice of a sa
man to identify him unless they m
him frequently.
III