The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-25
QUEER TESTS ron NEW CLERKS.
Big London Firms That Send Pros
Dective Employees on Fools En-
rands.

London Tit-Bits
A few weeks ago an advertisement ap-
peared in one of the morning papers
stating that a well-know financier had a
vacancy for smart and reliable clerk.
In the one day over 200 applicants called
at the address given, and out of these
six were taken on trial. Each one was
given letter, which was to be delivered
in person at an address in a town in
the North of England as quickly as posi-
ble Neither of the men knew anything
about the other five, but they were each
told to travel by a certain train At one
part or the journey a change had to be
made and the travellers had to walk over
to another station. Between the time that
the one train arrived and the other left
there was only three minutes and there
was not another train for three hours.
On reaching the station three of the
clerks went to consult a time table, and
by the time they had looked up the trains
they found they had missed the connec-
ton, while two had strolled over to the
station and arrived just in time to see
the train starting out. Only one had the
foresight to look at the time table before
starting. He had to run, but he caught
the train, and when he got back to the
office he was engeged at once as private
secretary at a salary of $500 ($2, 500 a
year. His employer explained that he
wanted a man who knew the value of
time, and that the journey was only a
test.
big firm of stockholders always try
their new clerks by giving them some
accounts to make up. In these accounts
some of the figures are Intentionally made
almost unreadable, some are badly form
ed, and some have been altered two or
three times Now, new men naturally
are anxious to appear smart, so nine
out of ten puzzle over the figures and
end by simply guessing at them. The
tenth man admits frankly that he can
not read them. He is the man who gets
the job. The others are to liable to make
mistakes.
A firm that does most of it's business
by travellers always tries new men by
sending them to canvass a certain street
In this street there are some very high
buildings of ten and twelve stories, which
are not fitted with lifts. In three of these
buildings there are top floor offices owned
by the company but run under different
names. If the new traveller calls at each
of these he is engaged; If not, he is plain
ly told that he is not wanted.
Professional shoppers are employed by
a large firm of diapers to test the abilities
of shop assistants. This firm owns over
thirty large shops, and employs nearly
1000 assistants. To find out whether
every customer is politely served a
number of lady customers are employed
to call at the various shops. They are
told to give as much trouble as possible
and sometimes to leave without making
a purchase after looking a nearly every
thing in the shop. Should the unfortunate
assistants temper not be equal to the
strain or should a single word be said
that might offend. a report will infalli-
bly, reach headquarters, and lead to the
dismissal OF the sorely tried handler of
silks and ribbons.
There is a cotton merchant in Manches-
ter who has the unenviable reputation
of being the worst tempered man i'm the
trade When he engages new travellers
he lets them go on with their business
for "A few days. and then. for some rea-
son or other he calls them into his Of
flee and finds fault with something. He
storms about the room, kicks over I'M
offending chairs I'm his rage. and declares
that the business is going TO ruin. II
the bewidered traveller takes offense at
the outburst and tells his employer to
find another man 10 take his place he IS
paid Off, and allowed 10 20; but n he
takes the whole affair quietly and takes
an the abuse as q Joke. the merchant
Gains down. apologize for his temper
and gives the man raise. He explains
that. above ell things. q traveller mutt
be able 20 keep biz temper n he expects
10 be- succrssful. ana h' says that every
man who has stood the test has done
well for the nrm