Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-07-18
THE MODERN SHOP GIRL
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKM.

worth goods year. Often II the salesWonan Is
absent recreation on the roof garden
the customer will prefer wait until she returns
rather than to have else wait her. These
saeswomen are the variety Of shop girl, who
benefited by the training classes and Understands
the psychological Of the selling business The
majority Of them cultivated sixth sense which
tells them methods to pursue IN pleasing GUS
toner. women shoppers, for example like to
be advised as to their purchases while others prefer
the saleswoman to remain SILENT still others dislike
SO much as to touched while trying garments.
yet equal number enjoy being overwated fused
and deliberately fattered Some saleswomen al
though uneducated, have instructive
facility for detecting the mood Of customer and cop
ing with it. thereby making excellent sales records
The modern shop girl today longer pale thin
individual who lounges the counter and
to keeping alive only by effort Of Will This Ia
due to instituted by the department stores
themselves who recognize the fact that physical dis
ability Is the principal cause Of tneiciency 1t was
very many ago that store girls stood be-
hind their ten hours day, with half hour
for lunch a rule and hastily gobbled sandwich In
rush Then came the early closing and shortly
afterwards haf-holiday Saturday and two weeks
during tho months Next came the
popular propaganda, do your Christmas shopping
early" and during holiday the department
stores instead Of keeping until midnight started
o close their doors at o'clock
great deal of credit these early a1nrEOvereuts
must also be given organizations as tho Co-
sumers' league be noticed, for instance mat
the sudden discovery OF the Dnysloa1 IsOeoF IN GILL;
cheney was concident with banding together o3 va
rous women's clubs which refused 70 paron11o every
store that was badly ventilated which did not have
adequate for its employees and which dd noe
maintain high health standard Now the average
large department store appears to be as healthy "a
young ladies' boarding school or sanitA-tun When
girl comes to the store seeking employment sne -
first examined by physician. and II In deli
cate health advised to seek some lighter occupa-
ton II accepted she is given short lecture ny
giene and enrolled in the store gymnasium where an
expert physical nsructs her in the art Of
rious strengthening her muscles and keep
ing in good condition. When she Is finally given
place behind the counter It is upon floor which Is
covered with thick sheetng Of cork linoleunns at
fording protection to the feet
On the roof Of many stores there is a recrea-
tion garden with well equipped solarium containing
leather couches easy chairs. reading tables ana VIC
trola Here almost time Of the day the fnooern
bon girl IL to be found 1fteen minute recesses
from store duty embroidering, reading resting oac
ing and chatting with her friends On the roo asO 10
maintained the store lunch room 1or us enployoS@
cafeteria ARRANGEMENT providing variety OF hot dishes
at the lowest possible prices the average lunch costing
twenty cents Small boys girls who employed
&c messengers and bundle wrappers about the store
are provided with lunch for five cents. which IN
cludes plate of soup bread and butter and big glass
Of milk.
One part of the is set aside the store hos
pital where there is staff Of trained nurses and
doctor to after girls who are taken IL II grA
is too i'll to remain floor she is put to bed in the
hospital and the her salary being
aid 70 her the same as II she were at work. which
would not be the If she went home In addition
IN the doctor there is store dentist and
also chiropodist, who maintained by the store
management benefit Of their employees All or
this is necessarily great expense to the store as
well as a problem in executive management, but the
results have made the inconvenience worth while Inc
large department today is tremendous organt-
zation whose every employee is trained unit working
for the progress Of the firm well as for their own
nsrsonal advancement Ten years from the I'M
tidy sangy gum-chewing shop girl will be as great an
anachronisrn department store as an early VIC
torian lady fainting variety would be In mod
ern gymnasium