The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-04
THE Willy sALEswoMAN.
Diplomatic Doings of the Clerk he.
hind the Counter.

| Life is not all dull work, complaints and
| general unpleasantness to the women who
work for women, notwithstanding The fire.
| queut diatribes one hears to that effect.
| In one of the big shops in town the Glen
! tele of women customers Is numerous and
| oppressively rich. They have accounts
and buy at this shop their gowns and bon
nets as well as their notepaper, hairpins,
| Christmas presents and other tribes,
| and the account Of each customer amounts
! to nice little annual income Tor the
| firm. These women. says the CONNER
| cial Advertiser" have special attendants
1 in the millinery. dressmaking, and other
| departments. Each saleswoman has her
| special customers, to whose eccentrici-
| ties, taste and moods she caters. She is
| supposed to supply the taste II none ex
lists. or to correct 1t gently IL its manifes
| tations are apt to reflect discredit On the
| shops frocks or hats When the red
| faced plutocrat decides to wear bonnet
made of blue forget-me- nots, and cannot
be turned from her criminal purpose by
tactful hints and putting forward of other
more becoming hats. the attendant folds
her hands with gentle decision and says:
Really, Mrs. Blank, would not sell you
that hat. OF course, il you will buy 1t,
you are free to do SO. but 1 will call
some one else to make the sale. l cannot
conscientiously sell 1t to you. l would
not like my other customers to think that
l advised you to wear it."
This is very plain talk but 1t sounds
sincere and disinterested even TO the stub
born ears of the color Mrs. Blank.
She yields the blue hat. Thereafter the
saleswoman could persuade Mrs. Blank
that 500 knot Of velvet makes her look
young and handsome and is therefore worth
the price.
But the willy saleswoman does not prac
tice such tactics. She has an eye to every
thing. her other customers-who may be
friends Of Mrs. Blank--her own future her
lasting influence, the firms opinion Of her
sales, and dozen other things, all Of
which contribute to or detract from her
success as saleswoman and humorer Of
womankind.
These saleswomen are the recipients of
as many condolences as doctors or clergy
men. They are weeks and months ahead
Of the society papers when it comes to
scandals, bankruptcies, and news OF fes-
tivities. They know where and when and
why their customers are going here and
there or why they are not going. And
what they know of expenditures, incomes.
scrimping and managing would appal
the average envier of the extravagant set
But they are not paid in gossip and
secrets alone, for their devotion to each
customers interests and their indefatiga-
BILE admiration of her grace of outline and
general superiority over every other Gus
toner. Brides, OF course. are cut CT the
question-even if the saleswomen would
accept them-as sternly businesslike men
have charge of the inartistic side of the
transactions. But gifts of gratitude for
past favors are showered upon the sales
woman who manages to please her clients.
Last Christmas one young woman in enc
of the big shops received no less than
forty-two gifts, great and small. from va
rious women who consider her their spe-
cial and particular attendant. One of
these gifts was diamond and miniature |
brooch from the biggest jewelers. in town. !
and point lace scarf, sable muff and |
dozen pairs Of fine gloves were few |
Of the costly presents.
Only the other day woman whose new |
autumn gowns had turned out lovely he |
yond her expectations said to her par
'ticular Miss X: Il know you kept your
eye on that filter, because she has never
fitted me so we'll before. 1t was your do |
ing. and I'm awfully grateful Where
upon she insisted on Miss X. accompany
ing her to the millinery department,
where the grateful lady bought her s2s
hat as a slight token of her appreciation.