The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-01-11
CbufS With the
Girl 6)bo 6G/orks


1t is the voice of the lady of
the appropriations. You have
heard 1t before.
1t has at various and sundry
times in the past beguiled dimes
from your purse. 1t has likewise
sweetly and subtly extracted your
best madeira handkerchiefs-so
provoking, dear, but she forgot
one this morning. How FORUM
ate that you have an extra clean
one with you!
Long ago it made way with your
umbrella and overshoes kept at
the office against a rainy day. The
only reason it has not appropriate
ed the successors to these useful
articles is that you keep them
safely locked at home, preferring
to come to the office wet rather
than risk them within the sound
of that seductive voice.
Not Vulgar Borrowing.
For the lady of the appropria-
lions has elevated to a fine art this
subtle method of annexing your
personal possessions. Call 1t not
mere vulgar borrowing! Does she
ever intend to return? Do not
belittle her lofty, magnanimous
nature, wherein turks no mean
apportioning of mine or thine, by
Suggesting such a thing as that
such trifles are to be returned be-
tween friends! And are not all
friends of the lady of the appro-
priations who have what she re-
quires?
Your magazines, your books,
your postage stamps, your muci-
lage, scissors, penknife, pencils,
all are hers by divine right of the
cheerful serenity with which she
appropriates them.
Refuse her? I defy you! 1t is
plain that you do not know that
velvet tongue, those lovely eyes,
that witching manner. In person
the lady of the appropriations is
always the prettiest, cleverest,
most fascinating girl in the office.
1t is not game that can be safe
ly played by plain, commonplace
girl-the sort of girl you could
| turn down.
Ask for their return? But by
what method can you do that
without SEEMING to sordidly hint
that they are yours after all?
Rather usffer their deprivation for
life than subject yourself to her
scorn of a mere niggardly miser!
And No Returns.
Annex in return? Alas, how
cheerfully and gladly would she
give, my dear, if she only had!
But she has not. No, curiously
enough, she never does. Never is
there fresh 15-cent handker-
chief in her bag for your needs!
Nor the price of lunch or a tel
ephone call in her purse. The
only umbrella she has always be-
longs to somebody else, and to
confiscate any of the appurten-
ances of her desk or wardrobe
would be merely to achieve the
doubtful satisfaction of acquiring
a third and innocent person s
property.
She is one of the most tangible
trials of life, this lady of the ap-
preparations. And there seems no
other way to preserve your be-
longings from her encroachments
/ than to bar the doors of your
| geniality against her from the
very beginning, and to stand
| freezing forever outside the ra-
dius of her smiles!
| 1t is no sinecure to wait on six
people at one time and answer
the inquiries of four more persons
with cheerful composure; to
please everybody and have eyes
and hands at the wrapping desk
and at the selling counter at the
same moment.
1t is not easy to stand from
a. m. until night, and then have
to remain past closing hours to ar
range counters for next day; to
breathe all day the air of crowded
stores, and then to have to jolt
home at night on a strap in a
crowded car. Not many things in
this world are easy, but surely the
lot Of the saleswoman in this hol-
iday season is one to tax body and
nerves to their limit.
/ Patient With Customers.
/ Remembering this, those of us
who stand on the outside of the
counters will try to be patient
with delays in our purchases. We
will try to shop as early as our
own occupations permit. We will
endeavor-oh, herculean task
to know what we want before we
present ourselves before you. So
far as it lies in our power we shall
refrain from adding to your bur-
den at this heavy season.
i But do you know that all our
efforts will be wasted If you don t
meet us half way? If our cour-
tesy is met by your impatience;
our need by your neglect, and our
interest by your Indifference
then the hard day for you and for
us is your fault! Do you not see
n.