Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-01
LIVING IN" IN LONDON SHOPS
DOrmitory System for the Big Store
Workers.
LIFE IN ONE SUCH PLACE
Supervision Extends 20 Their GoinRs
out and Comings In, hot They
Appear to LIke IL, Viewer
theIess.

LONDON, July 23-The shop girl Of Lon
don. or saleslady. II one Is technical in
style, is as a general thing very pleasing
TO contemplate. Her hair is usually care
fully coiffured. with no loose ends straying
about; her gown, In most cases OF black
and in the higher departments with demt-
train, shows no marks Of wear and tear.
She exhibits no nervous irtitabihty in deal
ing with her customers and no oYsrpower-
ing fatigue. remnants Of a past evenings
Raiety. In spite Of the confinement OF her
days and the routne of busy hours abe
nevertheless manages TO preserve that
colorful complexion which is the dibin-
gushing mark Of British. good health.
Her courtesy, IL one might make a criti-
oism, is a little exaggerated, and one often
is made to feel rhat one IL buying a yard
Of tape Of a cOndescending duchess, but
better, far better that than none at all. In
some Of the best conducted shcps in the
city the sslesgJls act as genuine nos
tesses, escorting you about, showing you
special attractions ana many times calling
your attention to bargains not yet exposed
for sale. They are not limited to a certain
standing ground, but move about m com
pany with their patrons In a word, they
are conscientiously trained and show TINS
training pleasingly.
This definition applies, Of oouTsey to The
best shops, as they are known to Ameri-
cans. for a system should be judged by
its best as we'll az by It's worst features.
The system referred to is the living In
system,' practically unknown in America
but which has been found In London to
settle many Of the problems OF the shop
eir,,s life. which is the constant subject OF
-z- "a 49, HuN,Nla n fnFnnigtg
The theater-going public got an inkling OF
it's worst side in the play. Diana OF Doo-
sons" where a crowded dormitory was
shown and a condition of existence pre-
sented which fell absolutely flat, owing to
the fact that the American shoppers had
M n~arallel for comparison in their own
experience.
The best side Of the system was shown
70 The Bees representative In one OF
London's well known simultaneous
patronized by royalty and many OF the
wealthiest and most fastidious society
women. It is a house founded seventy ouo
wears ago and at present occupies a olock
on upper oxford street beyond the oxford
circus in the heart Of the shopping district
not far from Jays, Peter Robinson's'
Liberty's-other American resorts whlch
boast similar care of their employees.
The general manager Of Marshall q
sneugrove's. Mr.. Tilot. acts as guide
through the mems quarters and then turns
YOU over to one of the salesgirls, who
performs the same office in the women's
mart. the living rooms being separated
nv one Of the shops buildings and con-
nection between being only by a series OF
underground corridors and Of storerooms'
etc.
1... ro Gonna . oO emnloyes approxi-
mately. and the majority OF both men
and women live in the establishment. The
married shopgirl is an unknown factor In
the life apparently; ask concerning her
and a raised eyebrow meets your inter-
roEation with the response, "Oh, when
the girls marry they drop out, else why
should they marry?" The married men
are some 200 in number and they have sal
aries accordingly. The living In system is
founded on a scale of adjustment, which
takes into account the expense of board
and lodging at minimum rates. 1t is ex-
pressly stated that only in shops Of lesser
reputation is any pressure brought to bear
in this matter. The clerk gets a choice
and the only time when preference is
shown by the management for those whc
take advantage Of the living in system is
in regard to the youngest members whom
II - lON hNNN NN
keep them out Of mischief.
The regulation dress for the male clerl
in the shop exacts that he shall weal
tails" either on a frock or cutaway, BLACK
tie and that his linen and shoes shall b'
irreproachable.
Entrance and exit through the shop arr
not pera,itted to the employees, and a
the private doors guards are stationed
who's duty 1t is TO keep close watch and
ward on the hours kept. These hour'
are. however, not restricting and It Il
stated that tho need of a monitor Is 81
obvious that IT does not require excuse
Four nights in the week the employees
are permitted to remain out until IL, on
night until Has and one until u, a rult
that applies to both sexes. In addition
to this a Tate night Is allowed Away
when a good reason is offered therefor
These hours are sufficiently late for thea
tiers, concerts. visiting and for cinderella
dances. which are one popular form OF re
taxation, and little use Ia made OF tn
privilege OF the Tate night" amendment
The residential parts OF the establish
ment are reached by broad stairways an
occupy all OF the upper parts OF the hug
building which are not devoted TO tn
wholesale section, where many OF the sen
Tors are employed. Seniors and juniors ar
separated not only by the classificatio
OF work, but as well in the details OF lv
ing; they do not dine together, nor d
they share the same reading, writing O
living rooms. and the division made be
tween the two by the fact OF years c
service against newness in place, year
and discretion in contradlstinction to ir
experience and instability Is very plainl
marked, There Is a desirable standarC
and a laudable ambition from the lowe
to the higher.
The men and women run the soci,
end Of the establishment, and while the
bring important matters oftentimes
Mr.. Tnlot the various clubs and soc
eties which are formed among them tai