The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-27
SALESWOMEN WHO STEAL.
NOT BROUGHT 10 II BY Low SAL-
iRIES, 4 THEIR EMPLOYERS.

Finers They Cannot 1tuS-Thosc who steal
would steal Anyway conditions Improving.
"Snloswomen and employees generally In the
better class OF New York stores are by thoir
present conditions lifted above abjcct poverty
and the temptation to steal"
Tho speaker was tho manager of n large Sixth
avenue store, and was discussing n case in which
a number of shop girls were accused OF theft.
at is to our interest, he continued, to make
the most of our girls. We want bright, refined
people to wait on our customers. We secure
them by paying salaries which will enable them
to live well md appear we'll"
what is the standard wages for saleswoment'
Eight dollars per week, but the average. In
higher In all first-class stores. There are n great
many who receive upward of $12. When q
young woman has special fitness for clerking,
and takes an interest in the work to which she
is assigned. sho does not stop long Mt 81. We
are glad 10 have them earn twice that amount
How does the present rate of wages compare
with that which prevailed ten years agof'
1T is higher. Business is not as good to-day
ms 1t was ten years ago, but wages for ycompetent
clerks are higher. Social conditions demand 1t,
and merchants, despite the hard times Of recent
years, have not reduced salaries. In some cases
they may have had to reduce tile number Of
hands employed. but they have not forced upon
their employees the necessity Of a lower stand
ard OF living. We can't afford to have dull,
chcap-looking men and women about us. 1t pays
us to have honest, moral. refined men and
women in our various departments. and natur-
ally II is n pleasure to feel that our people arc
able to live respectfully.
"In the very rare cases of theft which occur
the question OF salary has less bearing than
might be supposed. II a girl has moral stamina
and wishes to make something of herself sho
will not steal, nor will she lead an improper life
outside of the store. even il her salary is only 81
a week. On the other hand, il she has not the
moral fibre in her character which she ought to
have, she will do wrong though she gets $40 or
more. The present conditions in all the better
class of stores prove that employers look out for
the interests OF tReir employees as well as their
own. No good. Industrious, tidy girl is forced
to live on q salary that will not maintain her."
rs there a surplus Of labor in this line r.
81 can't say that there is. The right kind Of
young women can find places in New York to-
day, crowded as the city appears to be. There
seems to be a surplus of manual labor. or at least
there was during the winter, but If my informa-
tion is correct there is q great demand for relia-
bic girls as domestics in good families, and !
know there is always an opening for young
women of talent and good address in the stores.
We are glad to find a young woman Of character
who has a fair education and an adaptability to
handle correspondence or wait on customers.
Il consider that mercantile life offers more
inducements to young women than almost any
their feet, most Of the time during the day0say
from Q o'clock until 8. They are allowed to
mer, and ono in the winter. On rainy days we
give a half holiday to many of the clerks.
the sale OF goods it does not take long for her TO
work her way into a place at SO or $40 per
have at least a common school education, and
who are naturally neat in person and refined in
these d si%pie feduire FL elTis tho f6ei Po spS Seme is sp do 10
mestic work. which is also respectable and re-
muneratiSe; No girl who is without a good
good city family. Many will not do it. and often
,"When l speak of mercantile life as being de-
sirable for young women who have to seek en-
ployment and make their way, in the world. I
refer to those who are adapted TO the calling.
The majority of girls who are thrown on their
own resources cannot take the time to prepare
necessary education they would find that voca-
tion fully as hard as %clerking. 1t requires close
application after they have spent the years that
are required to educate themselves. Looking
at teaching and some Of the other professions to
earn her living in as nice q way as possible, 10
%tractive compared 10 store work"
The manaeer of a leading retail millinery
Young women in our line of trade earn more
money now than ever before" said he. "A
month ago had 10 advertise for nearly a week
that ! needed. We pay our %saieswomen from
require young women who have good taste as
well as good manners, and pay them according tn
THE conditions of cierkins have greatly Inn
enabled to dress well and live as they ought to.
1t is my experience that If a girl does not live q
correct life when away from the store, or If she
docs not try to improve herself mentally as well
as physically, she will soon fall behind her com.
panions in business. Her weaker nature will
soon be apparent here, 1t is the policy Of every
merchant OF sense and hcart-and you will find
that most business men have more heart and
conscience than is popularity supposed-to raise
his empiioyees above temptation and to see them
The arrest OF several youns women clerks ON
sixth avenue and their sorrow and ruin have
of girls and women employed in this way.
VI cant see why a girl should yield to such
reflect that the smallest theft would deprive
seriousness OF integrity, without which You cam
not look any one in the face. If those girls We're
oom7ortabiyS they were to be pitied. but they
ought to have seen that they would only he
n girls love for tnerv is stronger than her sense
Of honor. she never ought TO enter as a clerk"
life" said another. g but there is this to be said
for the business-it is better than 1t used TO he.
Most Of tho girls who clerk are not cdufsted
well enough for the higher professions. and have
age that hey Gould not adopt teaching, for e1-
ample. which would require additional time for
PE @EIts ihst we cRRn nss To live A Well fn and iAG im TReSs'
our social condition. / think clerking is the best
profession for young ladies'"
DO many young women clerks marry =
Il know two that We're married out of one
store on Fourteenth street the first week in
June. Isn't that n good indication ! or course
they marry. Why shouldn't they They are
able to dress well and have their evenings for
social recreation. They have the advantage OF
meeting hosts OF nice people. and no class OF
girls, have any better opportunities for match
making; Lott, and lots Of them get married.
Some whodon't marry prefer to remain single,
The only thing To be said about those girls
who were arrested Tor stealing il that they all
low ed themselves TO yield to II temptation that
naturally comes to every poor girl who has a
stock Of fine goods under her hands. Consider
ing how common the temptation is. il is u won
der that there is not moro stealing going on. OF
course. a girl ruins herself II she ever yields TO
the desire to possess more tinery than she is able
to pay for. She soon units herself for good work,
and is almost sure to he detected in Time. Clerks
are not driven to crimr by ncccssity. Some