The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-07
HosTEssEs IN DEPARTMENT STORES.
They Aid tho Woman who IL Bold Enough
to Go Shopping Alone.

10 80 shopping Alone.
Five "hostesses' are now included in the
staff OF one OF New York's large department
stores. Some people call them guides. but the
five themselves prefer to DO known as
hostcsses. II you ask them their mission in
the affairs OF the place they will tel Sou that
they extend the hospitalitics OF the store to
shoppers" This G!ittering phrase represents
a line OF duties which will appeal TO every wo-
man as exceedingly practical.
Talk OF It's not being good for man to be
alone! There Is one time OF all others when it
Is not good for woman 10 be alone. and that is
when she is shopping. Rather than go forth
solitary to a shopping expedition. a woman
would take her mother n-Iaw along. There is.
generally speaking. nothing stronger to be
said. Nine women out Of ten declare. in the
moderate forms so dear to the feminine tongue.
that they simply loathe and despise to go
shopping alone. The proprietor Of the store In
question recognized the prevalence OF this
state ofmind and determined that no woman
need come TO his emporium with such senti-
ments disturbing her serenity. Hence these
hostcsses.
They have n little office on the second floor
ut one corner OF the rotunda. Facing the open
centre OF the building ID an array OF cords
stretched from the railing up to the next floor.
1t looks rs II somebody intended to raise sweet
peas or vines. The only blossoms which ever
come on this trellis. however. are five bright
little satin banners. one for each OF the host
esses. One IL OF blue and white. one of scarlet
and white. and so on. II a hostess Is not in the
oirce. when called for her banner is run up.
aud that Is a signal to her that she is wanted, !
she, Is supposed to keep an eve on the trpllis
while she is away from the Office ani respond
to her banner signal as soon as possible.
The role of these hostcsses is that Of n guide
and adviser 4 woman comes in wiz a llst q
the store. and moreover she isn't very
sure that she knows Just what he wants. She
or. at any rate. counsellor and friend. Her
new ally knows all the ms ami outs OF the
store. and can lead the way without loss of
time from one department to another. secur-
thoroughly informed as to the latest fashions.
the. best and most popular materials, colors
and designs. She gives her advice as to what
will be the most becoming thing to get. how
select. every one Of the problems. in fact.
which torture the solitary shopper with dread
Iul doubts.
Each Of the five hostesscs has her own Glen
shop with them. One is q Southern woman.
who makes the customers from the South her
'wnp particular charge. They find in her a real
who takes away from the strangeness
~ loneliness OF being n a great city wholly
.rown accustomed TO. Anotherot the hostesses
3 a Catholic. and takes care OF all the Gus
omers from the converts and other essentially
,atholic institutions. This privilege Of having
own customers. Many. city women avail
themselves Of it. There is no charge TO the
ustomer at, all; The guides are really
~ostesses, delegated by the proprietor to ex-
md the courtesies of the house. Just as they