The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-10-04
SAlESWOMEN OF
PARIS % WELL AND
OFTEN MARRY WELL

Vi TN MAnhf WELL
The great dry goods stores of Paris
employ about 5000 saleswomen. They
are a highly businesslike lot of women
They work hard and nave long hours
but their pay is fair; they have pros
poets of advancement and they are talk
en- care of in illness and old age.
The change from the old methods of
business to the new is hardly greater
than the change in the girls who wait
on the customers. The old time file
de boutigne wearing a car and apron
was half shop girl and half servant
but altogether gay and irresponsible
The modern saleswoman is, at least
on duty, a prim and self-possessed per-
son in an impeccable black silk gown
OF up to late cut, With her hair care
fully dressed, her hands manicured and
her language as polished as that OF q
school reader.
Nearly all Of them now hold school
diplomas of one grade or another, Some
of them have certificates of graduation
from commercial high schools. The
stores prefer these testimonials TO eN-
perience.
Formerly only girls were taken who
had worked three years in some estab-
lishment, but as 20 is the maximum
of entrance. either the school or the
practical training has to be sacrificed.
The arrangements Of the biggest houses
now encourage the girls to get all the
schooling they can and come to them
young N well grounded, even though
inexperienced.
The situations are in great demand
1t is said that establishments employ
ing from 500 to 800 saleswomen have
from 1000 to 5000 applications annual
Is. Not only the aptitude but the fam
lily and personal record OF each candi-
data to nnnci1oro1 and aftp1s tho Gift.
ing process is completed landing a
pace is very often g matter of pull.
One member OF the chamber of de-
put!es was long Known i'm Paris as the
papa of saleswomen." 1t is said that
he was in the habit of securing places
for about sixty a year. His influence
grew out of his political methods.
In Paris he made himself purchasing
agent for his constituents and their
wives. He spent part of every day in
the dry goods stores picking up bar
gains and matching samples for them.
His patronage was regarded as worth
bidding for and the proprietors We're al
ways ready to give his girls the first
openings. In return the girls kept him
Informed of good bargains.
All the shopgirls begin as debitrice
or charge girls. The beginner receives
her board or else q Communication of
Sl20 a year I'm place of it. she under
takes a serious responsibility all the
s;.Ele. If she makes q mistake to the
detrilnent of the store she is liable for
the amount.
The position is a trying one. 1t is
the severe test by which they try out
beginners. One debitrice in the con-
fusion of a Christmas mob reported
a vase marked at 1876 francs as costing
10 francs so centimes, a difference
amounting to s35. When the mistake
was discovered the girl was requested
to make good the difference at once.
Her mother was a poor widow and they
had no ave a few articles
of jcWelry. which they took at once to
the Mont de Pete, but on which they
could raise only SIG. The girls in the
store hearing of the misfortune at once
started a collection to mak up the diff
fcrence, but just then the purchaser
turned up at the store. having just
fun payment. The debitrice was not
discharged, but her promotion to the
rank OF demoiselle de magazin was
postponed six months.
The coveted step is usually won in
a year or eighteen months. and it
allowance, about $40 a year salary and
an interest varying from l to 8 per
cent. in the sales she makes.
In one big store they tell of the
plainly dressed woman who went into
the suit department and had every ex-
iiio -lJCI K
cause she did not look like much of a
buyer. When the Junior of the depart
ment took pity on her and TOOK her
order she turned out to be the pro-
prietor OF a store in q large South
American city and she bought 100
suits at So each. On this sale of 5000
francs the saleswoman cleared 200
francs, or $40.
Besides her commissions the dem
olselle de magazin has the prospect of
promotion to encourage her. AS plain
saleSwoman her compensation all told
may vary from $500 in the lower grades
to 500 in the best lines. But promo
ton to the rank of assistant forewom-
an means from $500 TO 81. 200 q year.
according to the department.
When the debitrice is promoted to
be demoise lie do magazin she is in a
sense settled for life. Her whole ca
reer is likely to be spent in the de-
partment to which she is then assigned.
But this does not mean that her life is
narrowed any more thar tina of any
other woman.
She works long hours-s a. m. to :
p. m. with an hour about noon for
dfnner-but her life is gay. and much
Is done to make 1t pleasant. The girls
as they troop to and from work through
the streets OF Paris are a spectacle of
! spirits and discretion. They pro-
tect n another, and woe to the nash
er h attracts the attention of a
group.
One rather cruel practice is that of
camping the old maids on ST. Gather
ines day. The ceremony takes place at
the lunch -FOUR. 1t consists in planking
paper nightcaps on the heads Of ell the
girls who have reached the age of %
without being married. Some laugh.
some rage. but non escapes. for the
age and civil condition of every en-
ploye is common property.
But a majority do marry. The store
management encourages them to dc
so. Every girl gets a wedding present
of $50. They are helped when they be-
come mothers. getting at least a
months rest with full pay.
Many OF them marry men employed
in the same store. If the man is MAX
/. ing. say $500 a year and the wife. say
$500, the household is very prosper
Gus according to Partisan standards
and should be able to save a compel
( ence for old age. Saleswomen who
reach the age of so are pensioned, and
all are encouraged to join mutual bene
I fit SOciatjac which tal.a n a ~ a..