The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-27


former, which is followed by at least one
indianapolis shop. is To number each de-
partment and to designate each clerk in
each department by number which is pre-
coded by the department number Thus
the fourth clerk in Department 231, who
may be known to her friends as Miss Ara
abella Montmorency ChOlmondeley, is to her
department manager and his superiors only
23l4. Similarly, Mr.. Clarence Algernon
Jones, who is a distinctive figure in his set
by reason or his charming manners and ties
figures on the store annals only as 3542 be-
cause he is second in Department 354.
n simple system for the transferring of
goods followed by one of the Indianapolis
stores is the transfer slip on which are
written the purchasers name and address
Ihls slip the customer takes to the various
departments which she visits and each one
of her purchases written thereon, while the
parcels are each sent to the transfer desk.
When she has reached the end of her de-
sires and her pocketbook her packages are
easily collected from the desk TO be carried
home by herself to be delivered. The
system saves much time and also prevents
the annoyance of being accosted by string
or small cash boys or girls bearing a sue
cesSion of widely varying articles that one
never dreamed of purchasing with the I'M
varying question, rs these your goods,
lady?"
The luncheon hour in a big store lasts
from IL o'clock to 2, though, of course. no
single clerk gets the benefit OF the added
12O minutes. The clerks permitted to so
in attachments, the department heads so
arranging the order of their goings that the
departments may never be left with too
small a number to look after them prop
erly Each clerk is allowed a full hour and
many of them prefer to take their luncheon
in the building in preference to going home.
taurant in connection, there is a luncheon
room provided for the clerks and coffee,
chocolate and soups. at least, are served.
AN ORDERLY DEPARTURE.
Going home time, which comes not mo-
ment too soon, is, of course, o'clock. AT
that hour the bell rings once more, only
in this case IT is closing bell and the few
belated customers are hurried into the
outer coldness, while the clerks cover their
stocks or tuck them away shelves or in
boxes. Two minutes later the second bell
rings and at that ring one-third of the
clerks hurry off; at the second bell the
second third goes and at the third. the last
of the saleSpeople depart and leave the
store to semi-darkness, the Waterman, and
the janitors.
For those of the salespeople who wish to
leave the store at other than closing at
luncheon time, there is a slip which is
made out by the clerks department man.
ager and sent to the general manager to be
returned either approved or disapproved.
In the former case the time of the out
going and the incoming of the clerk is
noted by the inspector. The reason for ask
ing the pass has to be submitted to the
manager, together with the request, and
the righteousness of some Of the reasons
is illustrated by the case of one small cash
boy, who appeared one day in summer with
the request that he be permitted to leave
the store because he wanted to go to the
cemetery to cut the grass on his brother S
grave.
why when did your brother die my
boy?" queried the manager sympathetical-
ly. You haven't been out of the store at
all in the time you've been here"
The small boy shifted in an embarrassing
way well he died-well, twas bout
seven or eight years ago
Look here said the manager, who
plays here to-day?'
st Paul." said the small boy meekly.
He got his pass, for the grass on brother 8
grave was too good an excuse to be ignored.
The Inspector has another duty than that
of keeping tab on those who go in and out
the doors, and that is the keeping tab on
what they bring in and take out with them.
Every bundle which comes into the store
under a salespersons arm is stamped by
the Inspector and sent to the desk check
being given the owner. In the evening all
these parcels are placed on a convenient
table, the salespeople present their checks,
ana receive their oundles Every package
bought in the store by clerk is submitted
to a similar process. Thus the temptation
for any one to carry off any least thing
that is the stores rather than his is multi
fed.
do you have much trouble with shop
lifters?" the manager of one of the big
stores was asked.
LITTLE SHOPLIFTING.
I'VE have constant but little serious trou-
ble," was the answer. I'm our store, as
in most others. is a standing force of house
detectives, and in holiday times the force
is always doubled. In two years, however.
we have had no really serious affair of this
kind. the thefts which have occurred being
SO trifling that we have permitted the shop
filters to go merely with a severe repri-
mand. The best detective force that store
can possibly have is a force of wide-awake,
alert clerks. for they see more than any one
lowering around, trying to hide the object
of his lowering. can possibly see. In addi-
ton, however, to our detectives and clerks,
we have a system of our own for detecting
shoplifters, but 10 describe ii would Of
course render it useless
A funny instance in the shoplifting line
which occurred several years ago was relat-
ed by store manager. The incident hap
pened when a certain colored detective here
was in the height of his glory and his name
a power among his brethren-and sis
terS. too. a ComfOrt3ble-lOOklng cOlored
woman of generous proportions was detect
ed by one of the house force in the act of
appropriating articles to which she had no
claim, and she was taken to the managers
room and searched. A variety of articles
some from that store. some from one of the
other shops, were found on her, but she de-
clared calmly that they were all hers. She
took the affair very cooly and indifferently
and showed no emotion of any kind until
the manager remarked casually that he
thought he would send for the colored de-
the room with her arms about the speaker
and was kissing him wildly.
'Fo de Lawd's sake. Mistah, DON yo'
sen TO dat man.. she cried Don yo'
nevah do dat an Ih'll tell yo' all about dem
things. Why. him an me, we belong to
de same chuc Don yo' nevah sen TO-
him, now, Mistah."
But the hard-hearted manager did send
for the detective and the affectionate col
cred lady in consequence landed in the
workhOuse.
The force of buyers supported by depart
ment store is one OF the important features
of the store, and most of the larger shops
send anywhere from twelve TO fifteen peO-
pie East at various times during the year.
Rarely is any sent abroad. for the
American styles and goods are now quite up
to things on thc other side of the Atlantic.
and, besides, the desirable things produced
by foreign designers and managers are
brought over almost Immediately. In Illus
tration OF the fOrehandedness of the big
stores, it is told that one OF them has al
ready placed its orders for its stock of
toys and handkerchiefs for next years holi-
day trade, which Is going the maya ziEcs
which make up their Christmas numbers in