Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08
DEPARTMENT STORE GIRL


THE Department Store Girl is an i'm
1 portant cog In the economic ma
chinery of the city and is so recognized
by her employers. without her the mod
ern department store would hardly be
profitable investment. A small salary sell
dom interferes with the painstaking eff
forts and reliability characteristic of
woman employees. The Department Store
Girl is much better able to cope with the
Inconsistencies of the woman bargainer
than a male employe would be. When
a man would wax impatient and lose the
sale the girl understands. is patient and
waits.
With human nature poked at her in
basketfuls day after day the Department
Store Maid grows wise and knowing.
Many of them are burdened with respon-
sibilities. and these, coupled with the ex-
periences incident to their positions. lead
them to evolve crude sort of philosophy
Her philosophy, put in her own words IS
this: 1.-THE world is full of people worse
off than !: | see them every Day. MeaNn
and position do not make for happiness
and contentmene. l see indications of that
every day I may as we'll endeavor TO
make the best Of my own sphere.
The Department Store Girl does not
look exuberant. but she has the appear
her eyes speaks of dreams of the future
Whether it be through an inherent re-
gard for the fundamentals of society or
not she believes implicitly in marriage
Few are the department store girls that
are not in ques OF the right gentleman
friend" Marriage is her goal. Depart
ment store heads will corroborate me
1t would appear from the diligence OF
her pursuit that to her marriage Is an
e,ysium foreign to the intrusions of dull
foi n1 mil gPQm
that one before whose eyes the foibles of
human nature run their gamut and who
in measure is able TO philosophize in
cisively would be alive to the responsible
tiles of married life.
The Department Store Girl sees in mar
riage a deliverance from a life which.
though it has it's brighter sides, is on the
whole a sordid routine. In her freer
moments. SO far as l have been able to
observe, her entire imaginative effort is
expended i'm constructing dreams of the
future.
I happened to be in a department store
early one morning not long ago. l over
heard the following Illuminating CONVEX
sation:
Grace" said a heached blond to a
last night
"Oh. was youo What did you wear?'
said the brunette. pausing from her hair
dressing efforts before hand mirror.
MY blue He thinks it's grand"
DO you think he's good looking?"
well. I should say do Do you think
would go with him If he wasn't? Wen,
| guess not, kiddo."
care you dead SET, Myrtle?' asked
Grace, as she began to manicure her
nails
Il hate 10 pass when | got a card like
him i'm my hand,' replied Myrtle, eyinG
herself intently in the mirror.
Don't blame you laughed Grace.
Now honest kiddo, wouldn't him and
me make a swell pair" exclaimed Myrtle.
Yes" agreed Grace.
His job amt much, but Id live In a
cellar with those eyes" unused Myrtle.
The conversation ceased as a floor
walker came down the aisle, SO | passed
on.
The Department Store Girl gives touch
of co,oring to the early morning and late
evening crowds Considering the fact
that in the majority of stores she has
the choice of but one color-black-in the
selection of material for waists and
skirts she wears behind the counter. 1t
is remarkable that she makes an appear
ance at once so chic and alluring. The
Washington Department Store Girl is the
best dressed Department Store Girl in the
country She carries herself well There
is tendency on her part to bind her
waist exceeding small. to thus become
Frenchified and the more likable, SO
believe.
Does she firt9 Family in the morning,
mildly in the store. but immediately out
side