The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-19
THEY TAKE THE BLAME.
Mon Who Hire Out as Professional
Blundorers.
They AFRO Discharged Several Times Day
just to Appoase the Wrath or
Some Indignant Customer
AQueer Occupation.


employment of the Inhabitants of this
city as classified in the directory, saws
the Philadelphia Record. More than
ono man whose name appears there
graced by the simple but comprehensive
word ''clerk" is, if the truth were
known, fully entitled to classification
as professional scapcgoat. There is
more than one that is paid substantial
salary by large houses for no other &C.
cupation than taking upon his shoulders
the blame for all the misdceds Of the
establishment, and suffering the sup
posed loss of his situation at the rate of
dozen times day or as much oftener
as occasion may require. Being dis
charged half-dozcn times day with
out once losing his position, and at the
same time being we'll paid for the pecu-
liar performance, is, indeed, n novel
idea. This is how it is done:
A lady makes purchase Of several
articles. all of which are to DO sent to
her address, as given, before n certain
hour without fail. The following tay
the customer returns, and in her own
sweet way proceeds to tear out" the
floor manager or proprietor, as it NAV
be, because the goods failed to arrive at
the promised hour. Tho story lis
patiently heard, and the word is passed
along for Smith. Smith makes his ap-
pearance with countcnancc profess
sionally penitent and submissive.
Smith" the manager begins, "you
were instructed to send this lady's
goods to the address given you before
four o'clocl12"
Yes, sir" is Smiths plaintive reply,
but"
Never mind an explanation. I un-
dcrstand. Your neglect caused the de-
lay and has riskcd 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 ready made
crestfallcn look upon his face.
MADAM, / regret the occurrence of
such an unnecessary blunder, but as
sure you it will not happen again; sure
~ not from that man." and madam
takes her departure fully satisfied that
she has had her revenge.
Another irate customer appears on
the scene. This time tho trouble is
with suite of furniture which had
been purchased n week before as in per-
feet order, but has already begun to
show signs of approaching dissolution.
Tho aggrievcd purchaser opens on the
manager, who at once sends for ''the
man who takes the blame" and opens
his usual programme.
How is this, sir? What do you meao
by sending ont goods in such cond
ton? You have been repeatedly to
not to permit any goods to leave yo
department unless in perfect orc
This is not the first time this has lar
pened; but it will be the last. G To-
the office and get your pay; we hav
further use for your services.
Madam, / am very sorry tha
should have been SO deceived by
our statesmen. We cannot yer
take back the furniture after
been used but we will send IL .ual
your house to put it in proper ~ ra
and the lady goes on her way isss3
that she has received justice.
1.-THE man who takes the blame" is
next discharged for overcliarging in
making sale Of silk dress goods uc
then suffers TRADE of abuse and is
also to go because he has sold q set of
fine china without calling the attention
OF the purchaser to several little defects.
And so it goes from morning to night,
day after day, week in and week ont
The poor fellow is made to suffer for
all the sins of the entire establishment
from the manager down to the GRAND
boy. 1T is n somewhat strange but
true fact that many people are satisfied
to put up with considerable incon-
vcnicnoc if they can only be revcngcd
by seeing some one discharged. Some
times when we bring out our man who
takes the blame, the customer ventures
to suggest that he is not the man who
waited on her, but we insist that lie is,
and the man adds his own assertion,
and i'll nine cases out of ten
the customer is convinced. Very
few people take enough notice
OF statesmen to identify him I'M
less they meet him frequently. have
known some establishments that have
employed two or more men to take
blame in order to facilitate matters.
The funniest part of the thing is that
our scapegoat man grows fat on being
'cussed.' He has increased from one
hundred and fifty pounds to two hun
dred and twenty pounds in fifteen
months, and smiles SO much that we
will have to change him and get some
dyspeptic-loolsing individual in his
place."
Strictly B1siness.