The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-02-13
CATHOLIC GIRLS.
Tribute to Those Employed in
Department Stores,

modern large store. Those who are in
Il position to know agree that her
ability enables her to keep pace with
the progressive spirit of the times.
and she almost Invariably wins her
way to the front rank where promo
ton is reached solely by merit, says a
department store manager in the Car
melite Review.
Many years experience in the de-
partment store convinces me that the
Catholic young woman is, generally
speaking, a most desirable employee,
but be it understood that l do not in
clude in this statement one who is
Catholic in name only. l have noticed
at various times that the Catholic
young woman who is most exact in
the observance of her religious duties
is more faithful and more conscien-
tious worker than one who fails to
practice the religion in which she pro-
fesses to believe. When, therefore, l
speak of the Catholic young woman
being valuable acquisition to bust
ness house, l refer, of course to the
practical Catholic. One rarely finds in
her the prototype of the alleged hui
morist in the comic papers. The lofty,
imperiOuS air toward the customer
the idle gossip with her Associates
the gum-chewing propensity-the new
er-ceasins slang and the frigid indif-
ference to everything pertaining to
business-these and other hallucina-
tons which enlanlte from some minds
will not be found in the Catholic young
woman of the department store, nor
will such a condition of things be per-
mitted for an instant in any we'll regu-
lated business house. On the contrary,
the we'll brought up young woman be-
hind the counter is courteous and
painstaking even with customers who
often have little or no consideration
for those who attend to their wants
in shopping. But it is not in the ca
pacity of sAleswOman alone that we
find the Catholic young woman; we
also see her occupying the positions of
bookkecpcr, cashier, inspector. stem
ographer. typewriter department man.
ager and buyer, the latter position call
ing for an unusual amount of tact and
exclusive ability-a position which she
has reached by faithful, Intelligent
service. courtesy. promptncss and abil-
ity to acquire Il comprehensive knowl-
edge of business principles. The
young women who attain this degree
of proficiency are exceptionally bright,
but comparatively few. as most en-
ployerS prefer men for the higher posi-
tons. knowing as they do that the
young womaI'S ambition is eventually
to preside over her own domestic
hearth. The most successful Catholic
woman in the large store is one who
enters upon Il business career with Il
firm determination to perform faith
fully whatever duties are required in
her position, and in their performance
to adhere to the line of conduct which
she has been taught from her earliest
years to follow. She can always he
true to her tcachin" ana at the same
time achieve the highest measure of
success. She will find Il contrary
course more of Il hindrnnce than Il help
to her progress. She should not yr,lm-
bic at the outset if her work seems Il
task, but she should cnlcnvor to like
the employment she has chosen and
r"rsrverc in it until it becomes a pleas
IRE to her Her faculty of adapting
herself to her environments will 30 !,
long WAY toward tightening her lnbors,
ana hero it may he said that the adapt
ability alone will often accomplish
mere than experience without adapt
ability. But whatever occupation. she
will find that courtesy. nratncsS.
punrtlmlity and an Intelligent earnest
ness in her work will win for her the
respect and wood will of her employ
rrS as we'll us her associates
On the other hand. the young wom-
an who is diScourtcous who reports
late for work several mornings Il
week. who impaticntly watches the
clock during business hours and
thinks only of payday. who shows in
her manner and ill-hrrd Indifference,
who is untdy or slovrnly i'm appear
ance, who is disloyal to her employers.
who idlcS away the time which she
should devote to her employers in
terest--this young woman need never
hope to retain her position. much less
the esteem Of those With whom she
comes in contact. The influence of
example is SO flr-reachiny in its Of
fects that the Catholic young woman
cannot exercise too much care. or he
too guarded in her words and actions.
When she builds up for herself an IT.
reproachahle reputation she not only
receives her own reward but also
brings honor to her religion. But. if
on the other hand. she so far forgets
herself to be guilty of actions which
are questionable or dishonest. she does
an l'r"palnble injury to herself. to her
friends. and to her cO-rcliyionists. The
Catholic young woman in the depart
ment store is numerically strong. But
greater than the strength of numbers