Evening star., 1895-06-06
CLOSING G
A General Movement in This Di-
rection.
MERCHANTS LIKE The IDEA
Nothing Really Lost by the Gus
tom.
THE PUBLIC APPROVES

Most of the large stores and business
houses of the city expect to follow the same
rule of early closing this summer that has
proved so satisfactory and successful in
years gone by.
A number of the larger places of business
are already closing up at ) o'clock in the
afternoon, and, beginning with the 1st of
next month, are to close at 1 o'clock on
Saturday. Some have already adopted the
latter rule as we'll.
The rule has no more ardent partisans
than are the managers and proprietors of
the stores and offices themselves. In their
opinion it is good rule, for it works both
ways; 1t is unquestionably in the interests
of the employees. but at the same time the
heads of the stores and offices are unani-
nous in the opinion that they lose nothing
by it, but are the gamers in the long run.
During the long. hot afternoons Of summer
business is sometimes little slack. Clerks
are standing about with comparatively lit
tie to do. Men and women who make up
the customers are through with their occu-
pations of the day, and are resting at ease
at their homes or are heading for the coun-
try or down the river. Whatever shopping
they have had to do was done during the
cooler hours of the morning. After j O'Clock
the amount of business done anyway is
comparatively slight. 1t can just as we'll
be done earlier II the day. Shopkeepers
realize this and the result Is their friendly
attitude toward the early closing move
ment.
Eyerybody's Breathing Spell.
The proprietors of the stores and other
places of business say that they probably
do not lose a cent by shutting up their
front doors at an earlier hour in summer
than they do in winter. This is. Of course.
| a rather sordid view to take of the mat
ter but it is a true one, nevertheless. With
1t Is the thought of the incalculable good
that accrues to the clerks. who do not have
an easy time of it at best. They are given
the opportunity to enjoy a little extra
breathing spell and some sort OF an outins
that fits them all the better to begin the
labors of a new day afresh. That they
make the best of their opportunity is well
proved by the throngs of people who crowd
the suburban car lines and the river steam
ers during the heated spell.
"All work and no play makes Jack a
dull boy"
This is an old adage and true one, and
there are merchants clever enough to
realize the truth of it. A Star reporter to-
day made the rounds of the big stores that
treat their employees with consideration.
and in every instarce the statement was
made that it pays to do unto others as
they would like to be done by.
Patrons Are kindhcarted.
One of the shrewdest merchants in the
city said that in his opinion no man in bus
mess ever lost by being thoughtful of the
needs and interests of those under him.
1.-The class of people," said he, who make
up the bulk of the purchasing class are
kindhearted. They like to be we'll treated
when they enter a store, but they also like
to feel that the clerks who wait on them
are we'll treated in turn. They not in
frequently express sympathy for the women
and men who stand behind the counters all
| these long, hot days. They do not let their
sympathy stop there, however, but are
ready enough to second any effort an em-
ployer may make to better the condition of
those under him. We close every afternoon
at s. and soon will be closing at on Sat
| urdays. This is to certain extent hard
ship on some of our customers, and they
might like to have that extra half hour or
hour In the afternoon to complete their
purchases. But they do not find fault, for
they think of the hundreds of employees
who are enjoying the respite to the full,
and you would be surprised to know how
| quickly and willingly they accommodate
| themselves to the new condition of affairs" ="
Little Gained by Refusing to Close.
I'VE have always been heavy advertisers
| in The Star, and we make it a point TO
announce our hour of closing. but I pre-
sumo there are some people who never
read the papers. for I find they keep conf
| Ing down to the store day after day after
| closing hours. Some of them go home and
l
1 presume who do not care to wait and
| start off at once for some of the smaller
| stores that do not show so much conSidera-
| ton to their clerks. In that way all the
| stores that close early must lose some
sales, but doubt If they amount to very
much, for it has been my experience that
| the people whose trade is worth while are
| those who read the papers and would
rather give their trade to the stores that
| treat their clerks decently."
All the stores that followed the early
closing rule last year have found it so sat
| isfactory in Its workings that they are 60
| ing. to follow 1t again this year. Further,
| 1t is hoped that number of stores that
have stood off in other years will see the
| error of their ways and get in line this
| summer.
The fact that Saturday has been made a
| legal half holiday in the banking world of
! the District has naturally given a powerful
| 1t has given the movement stability as
| WELL for banks have d big influence in the
| matter Of influencing business methods.
Nothing Lost by 1t.
When asked what his experience with the
early closing system had been, Mr. A. Lis
| ner, the proprietor Of the Palais Royal, said
to Star reporter today: Il was one of the
first, and my impression Is that I was the
very first t. introduce early closing in this
city. I would not go back to the old way
under any consideration. In the first place,
do not think have ever lost anything by
1t, and on the other hand, 1 have gained a
great deal by it in many ways. Employees
appreciate it when they are treated we'll
and 1 have always found that they make
up what may be lost in actual time by their
increased interest in their work, and their
Willingness and loyalty toward their en-
ployer. l know that myself enjoy the op-
pertunity of getting Off earlier every after
| noon during hot weather, and in having
practically half holiday every Saturday.
1t gives chance for needed rest and recre-
alton. One get out into the country
and get breath of fresh air, and it is not
much fun to have to work all the time. If
I enjoy chance like that it stands to rea-
son that the clerks like it even better. for
they naturally cannot take as many liber-
ties as the man at the head. In the second
place, you have no idea how beneficial lit
tie outings like that are to people who are
cooped UP all day. 1t may be a bit incon-
venient for some people who want to do
their shopping in the afternoons. but it
would be just exactly easy for them to
do 1t an hour or SO earlier, and 1 am sure
they would be willing if they knew what
kindly act they were doing"
Pioneer In EARLY Closing.
Mr.. S. w. Woodward of Woodward &
IOthroD said. eve bepan early c1osinp