Arizona republican., 1910-06-02
THE AFTERNOON sIEsrA.

To the Editor of The Republican
 Sir: l beg the liberty of presenting matter to you for publication which is of vital interest to everyone living in the business districts of our city. In speaking Of this matter as vital subject. 1 mean vital in all senses of the word. The matter pertains to the health, happiness and comfort of ev- eryone who lives in Phoenix during the summer months
 Our heated period of the day de- mands an afternoon siesta. Many cities in other parts of the country. and chiefly in Mexico. close their stores for at least a couple hours in the afternoon, between the hours of and or D. m. An action of this kind would be a benefit to all those concerned, namely the employe. the customer and the employer
 Have you entered some of the Phoe- nix stores about 1 or o'clock on q heated afternoon? If you did. it is needless to say that you attended to your purchases as quickly as possible to get back into the open air Did you ever stop to think of the clerks who are obliged to stay in the hot. stuffy stores throughout the afternoon, killing. off the hours. wheth- CT there was busiiess or not? For a matter of fact there is very little pur- chasing done during this heated per iod of the day, between l and o'clock. or even up to 1.
 Los Angeles houses do not open for business that is the largest of them. until S:3O D. m. and most of the leading stores throughout the country do the apparently absurd act of clos ing their stores Saturday at noon. As our city enlarges, our methods change. It was not great many years ago. when the clerks of Phoenix demanded closing of the stores at o'clock, and that looked unreasonable at first. but now the employers are satisfied. that the public is educated up to making their purchases during their business hours, whatever they may be
 Why not agitate the matter of a siesta during the months of June. July, and August, and even through part of September, and petition for all business houses to close their stores between the hours of and 3, 80 or o'clock. Upon opening at 4, busi- ness could be resumed until a later hour. say o'clock. The clerks would be treated fairly. and would be in a very much better frame of mind and physical condition to close sales with customers.
 great many business men do not know the secret of securing good bus- ness. Good business comes with rush. The more people that are seen entering store. the more influence it will have on onlookers For in stance, if business hours were short ened, the people would enter stores in greater masses, and this alone is what many of the stores depend on for sell ing goods. The crowds inspire confi- dence in the customer and get him or her into the buying spirit, and there is. no doubt that at least 20 per cent more sales are closed in a crowd than when a customer enters into a store and finds the whole. place to himself and makes the simple purchase which he or she absolutely needs.
 l advocate the siesta from a profit able business standpoint as we'll as for d iulndAt HIONtfIlcHl LOT the cIeTkS. It will also benefit the employer. The employers themselves would also like 10 take an afternoon siesta, and would dp so were they satisfied that their competitors were not getting the bet ter of them during that period by hav- ing their stores open.
 Is there not some organization Of influence in this community that can take this matter up and put it through with results? Summers would not be half so bad in Phoenix if they were made as comfortable as possible. and l the afternoon siesta is certainly the | means of making life a great deal | more comfortable.
 Hopefully waiting results I am.
 A PHOENIX SUMMERITE.