The Irish standard., 1908-03-28

same lines.
Time has brought far different con-
ditions into existence, and yet with
English tenacity the theory is MAIN
tanned that workers in shops should
share living places under the jurisdic-
ton of shop owners. Distances are no
longer great. Six cents and twenty
minutes will take any one to London's
more faraway suburbs by underground
road. Men and women, boys and girls
would be able to have family life and
still perform their duties in stores adc-
auately. yet there are scarcely any es-
Establishments where Il large enough
afford to live anywhere except under
the roof provided by the master.
The high cost of living, the uncer-
tainty of labor, the dread Of illness and
The poor return for thrift compel the
parents of the class from which shop
boys and girls are drawn to see that
their children arc enabled to bring
| home weekly Il few shillings toward
the household exchcquer. In order to
do this the boys and girls must accept
board and lodging given by their em-
ploycrs.
A few weeks ago in The Sun an ar
ticlc appeared on shopgirl life in New
York. An attractive picture was drawn
of the sitting rooms, dining rooms, So
cial clubs, etc, at most stores; of the
care taken of them when they are i'll
and of the liberal wage paid them for
their work. In contrast to this it may
be interesting to know something Of
the shop life of the courteous, gentle
voiced English shopgirl who always
charms Americans with her politeness
and patience and who manages to look
neat in her black gown despite the try
ing conditions under which her daily
toilet is made.
In the first place if she is a. new
conner she may be giving her services
for the first month without any wage
II this is not the case she considers
herself lucky to have $1.25 a week. and
when she does achieve as much as
$3.50 or So she is indeed doing well.
If she rises to be head saleswoman of
the department she will perhaps get
81. She is told when she takes her
place at the store that this small SAL
airy is so much clear gain. as her bed
and food are provided for her, but she
soon learns that fines are numerous
and very often entirely in the hands of
the shopwalker. SO it behooves her to
keep in his good graces lest she is fined
two cents here and three cents there
for arriving behind the counter two
minutes late, for wearing a piece of
jewelry. for talking in the dor,nitory,
for doing many and various things,
until her s1.25 is reduced to half its
proportions at the end of the week.
She begins her morning in the store
at any time from to g.; that depends
on where she is employed. To fortify
her for the day a breakfast is furnished
OF tea. bread and butter or cruel. When
dinner time comes she has Is minutes
recess to eat what is provided, and that
in a room crowded with her fellow
workers, who are all calling out, bolt
ing their food and rushing lest they
should be fined for lateness when they
arrive at the counter. At 4 o'clock she
has another Is minutes to take her
weak tea and bread. When the store
closes at and the last bit of work is
accomplished by half past she has a
supper of bread and cheese. Then she
may go out if she likes until II o'clock.
II she comes in five minutes late she is
fined, and in many places if she is Is
minutes late she cannot get in at all
and spends the night on the streets
with the thoughts of the next days
probable dismissal to enliven the hours.
Ii she does not wish to go out she may
ASI'AC W d ucdIy, ulilcdlcu SlLClIS
room with accommodation for SO few
girls that should too many stay home
the same night bed is the only refuge
for those who cannot crowd into the
ROOM
If she goes to bed she makes her
way to cold dormitory with any
where from Is to 80 beds in it, toilet
table at each end and washstand
with two small pitchers of water. She
has one nail OH which to hang her
things, and Il bath is out of the ques-
ton. If she drops off to sleep she is
soon awakened by her returning ROOM
mates. who are girls from all parts of
the country and Of varying characters.
She may go home from Saturday aft
ernoon to Sunday evening. or if her
family lives too far away she may so
where she wishes. Also her Sunday
S,H.t, ,;1~ Iry3,, g..