The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-29
THE TRIALS OF SALESGIRLS

q pray you leave me now alone. You worked your will
 And turned my weary heart to stone Why haunt me still?
 Methinks I hear your voice the sl- lence fill
 Why vex me sti1l?''
 There is scarcely a pretty girl who pauses before an aI1uring shop window wh ere confections of pretty gowns are sold who does not wonder how she would look in such bewildering fnery. To many such girls the temptation to try them on comes with such persls- tency-though they know they cannot afford to buy be the price be fifty dol lars or five-that they yield to the longing.
 The sales girl is only too eager to show the dresses, devoutly hoping she has 8 prospective customer. Every gown in the window and also those in te show room are tried on until the sales girls nerves are actually on edge, fatigued with fetching, putting on, Straining to reduce a 38-inch waist into 9 34 belt, pinning up, taking off. her eyes anxiously on the clock. won dering if the young woman will be suited at last or if her precious time lis likely to be wasted in the end. She knows only too we'll that if she is un- able to make sales, che will be dis charged.
 When such a customer calmly an nounces at last, tI was just looking today will make up my mind and call again. brave is the sales girl who can force a smile to her lips, retain her courteous manner and answer without a tremor in her voice, "I shall be glad to serve you when you come in again to buy.' The average woman does not mean to be unkind or to re- ducei the sales girls weekly wage. She is 17A1xr T7ao Iii S& that the careful woman must search patiently, often, to be sure she is get ting the value for her money-whieh has been put together slowly for naotnths-and try on many to secure the right one, yet she should be frank with the sales girl, telling her she will buy if she finds something to suit at such and such a price or that she is intent on. seeing at present, not on buying No embargo will be placed upon her for looking about to her hearts content
 It is a subtle temptation to many woman to behold herself arrayed in Hnery she never will own before a long French mirror. She thinks of the pie ture she made, dreams of it, covets it. plans. schemes and, startling as it may seem, it is the cause of her un- doing She throws over the poor but honest, young man who loves her for a wealthy elderly suitor whose ssoId when she weds him, can buy her the sumptuous clothes which changed her from a merely good-looking girl into a royal beauty
 Or course unhappiness follows She learns that cloth of gold, all the Iaces. sat1ns and furbelows wealth can pro cure do not bring contentment. If pretty, but poor, girls did not yield to the lure of seeing themselves in gor- geous borrowed pIunes, trying on what they knew they couldn't buy. they would fell more contented with their own modest possessions.
 Saleswomen who have spent long years studying human nature in their occupation have unerring judgment in regard to possible customers or those who would <useIessly waste their val uable time. They know when thev are apt to be ruth1essly imposed upon and when women are in earnest in an attempt to make a wise selection and purchase. Their courtesy in eitbeT. event is un1agging, but they know.
 The pretty yonug thing who is will ling to try on everything in the most expensive catalogue, regardless of c1Jt co'or. texture, r1ice, time, is the s.lit,s girls terror. Those who take up hours Of her time are cheating her of sales she might make with those anxious to puy. The real customer knows about what she wants and about what price she is willing to pay Girls. refrain rom trying on expensive things vo1, Know you cannot buy.