The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-04-29
Df the largest hotels.

OF the largest hotels.
They don't know how to stand the
gam" she replied. ITS hard to find
a girl who won't believe everything
that these men tell Them"
The inquirer, having had considera.
bic difficulty at inducing girls to &C.
cept his "gaf," was inclined to doubt
this statement, but as there was no
one to whom to refer the decision
he rested.
ITS a fact" the cigar girl contin.
ued, but the qualities required for
position of this kind naturally rem.
der the field an extremely profitable
one, but nevertheless hard to fill"
Having delivered such statement,
she retired to the left end of the
counter sold a package of gum and
gracefully carrying the conversation
that the purchaser endeavored to
start returned to the center with
graceful footwork.
"A girl can't afford to be soft in
this business" she went on. Now
there are some girls who, If you tell
them the little story of your life,
think that you have serious intentions
and begin to prepare their trousseau
at once. But not me. No, sir.
know how to take their talk.
Take, for instance, a travelling man
that came in here yesterday. He
came up to the counter, bought a eli.
gar, inquired for the best morning
paper, and then started out with a
remark on the weather. That is the
earmark by which you can dsting-
uish travelling salesman. 1t is al.
ways, Looks like fine day, but it
might rain" with them.
"He told me about the fine hotels
in which he had stopped and how ne
got bad service in nearly all of them
Now, when | was in New York.
he started, but | got next and pre-
tending to arrange the cigar stock
kept him waiting until he was tireo
and went away. He came back
though-they all do-and before he
had talked to me three minutes he had
told me all about himself, his bust.
ness, his home, and all the other
things that he thought might be
interested in.
That's what makes our work hard.
If it was only selling cigars and the
papers and shaking horses, my job
would be snap. But they all insist
on trying to shove you the gaff.
suppose they are actuated by desire
to help make the day pleasant for
us, but it has the opposite effect.
THE girl new to the profession
takes this all in and listens with
wide-eyed amazement to his stories of
travel and life in different parts of
II country. First thing she knows
she is all for him. and just there
is where they all make their mistake.
She neglects the other customers to
talk to him. When they approach the
counter to make a purchase, she i'm
patiently leaves the other man, and
hurries back to the conversation
which she has just left. The pur-
chaser leaves with a dissatisfied feel
next purchase. That sort of thing
will not do. A girl must remain neut-
raj, and greet all with a pleasant smile
and bon mot or so. That makes
them feel good and they appreciate
you more.
Most of the girls who used to be
at the hotels are married. Some of
them went to the office building cigar
stores. | believe girls still are in
charge IN most of these stands. The
business man doesn't have time to
stop and talk nonsense. He hires a
stenographer for that purpose, so
girl can very easily hold position
in a big building.
"Goodby. Here comes a perfect
bore, but he buys a lot of cigars, so
I'll have to jolly him. Gee, but / am
tired"
And the diplomatic cigar stand girl
retired to make sale.