The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-22
Birmirgham'S Nice Saleswonlen Are
 Credit 10 This Community
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE

the saleswomen of Birmingham need champion, far from 1t, but just because I've been thinking lately since I've been writing my share of the stories of Successful Wom- en in Business in Birmingham" about what splendid, capable, co terie of young women one finds em- ployed in the various shops of this big city.
 Anybody who has any kick about the feminine clerks of Birmfnghan m just ought to pay visit to the shops of some towns I've been in; if the contrast wouldn't make them appre- ciate home talent" then don't know what would
 The saleswomen of Birmfn gha m arc as rule ladies; they are Rentle- women, soft voiced, polite, intelIi- gent They know their business they understand the stock, and they show it unmurmuringly even though in many cases they have a sour. bit ter-tongued customer to serve and who. when thesend has been reached. walks away without even 80 much as civil Thank you" for all the saleswoman's trouble.
 For Instance
 For instance; you go into a shop to look at cretonnes; you complain that you cannot get the effect with so many things piled up on the counter, and what does the sales woman do but immediately impro- wise from chair and a stiff sheet of paper an inclined plane upon which to show the goods; she then searches out the particular shades of blue, or rose, or yellow that the customer wishes and exhibits them proudly.
 You sit and look and look until your eyes nearly drop out and then you say:
 Don't bother about any more; I probably shall not buy anything aft CT all."
 And as quick as lightning tho nice saleswonan says:
 That doesn't mako 8 bit of diff ference. I'm here to show you the goods. whether you buy or not, and, besides, love to show them"
 You buy. of course, for the sales woman Is too nice to withstand and the result is you leave her happy with big order and go away happy yourself, because of the pleasant ex- perience.
 Housekeeping Department
 And then there's the girl who waits on you in the housekeeping department.
 You want kitchen utensils for your new kitchen and you are not quite sure just what is needed; but here's where the art of being a good sales woman comes in. She Is practical and knows everything you need and guides you tactfully along the flow cry path that leads eventually to a happy queen of the kitchen.
 Your taste IS for all sorts of new and weird utensils, such as patent mayonnaise beaters, souffle cutters and things of that kind. but will the nice saleswoman let you buy them? Not at all. i've been keep ing house for five years and know what you need" she sweetly says, and so persuades you to buy unromantic saucepans, colanders, pots and kettles.
 Within the next few weeks you find out how wise the nice sales woman's choice was and you arise and call her name-blessed!
 Shoes
 And then you go to the shoe de- partment: If 1t happens to be wom- an who waits on you there. you'll find her measuring your feet gent ly and suggesting the proper num- Der and last.
 "Too big" you are apt to say as she tried the shoe on.
 "If you'll take my advice you'll not buy another one smaller" she says kindly. flor I stand a great deal and know the unpleasantness of a shoe which Is too tight"
 In the millinery department-ye gods and little fishes-this Is the most trying department for any saleswoman to inhabit. and few there be who measure up to the mark. for if there Is any place where customers are fussy and horrid and mean and ugly 1t Is in the millinery department! Still Birmingham is doubly blessed by the many talented clever saleswomen who serve in the this capacity.
 Think of the patience which Is required to stand over some old ugly. hatchet-faced woman. and have her turn and twist and ask you if you think it's becoming and If 1t suits her style. and a thousand and one other fool questions.
 Millinery.
 There are just so many nice sales women in the millinery department of the various shops in Birmingham that you'd like to make long list of them and print them In the Sun day paper. telling just how sweet and nice each separate one has been to you when you've been the old ugly, hatchet-faced creature who vas buying!
 And the ready to -wear"s depart ments-the blouse, the gloves, the wells, the endless odds and ends just stop and think. Do you know a single, solitary, disagreeable, un accommodating saleswoman in the whole town of Birmingham? I don't.
 Just step into some of the New York shops on Fifth avenue, if you stuck-up, dressed in sweeping black draperies. stylish-looking, highly "coiffeured" saleswomen in any of the fashionable shops condescend to wait on you, and I'll venture to say you'll feel like a street waif who has been stepped on by a Dowager Duchessi
 They patronize you. and look you over, and snub you, until you arc ready to apologize for living. and when they say with their nose up in the air as you ask the price of bonnet!
 "Oh that's an inexpensive httle thing; let me see; just ss5"-you want to blot yourself off the earth.
 All Are Friendly
 But in Birmingham every sales woman is your friend, ready to help you, ready to be kind to you, if you show the slightest human quality in return.
 The trouble with 50 many shoppers is inst themselves. they treat the saleswoman as if she were an auto maton, piece of machinery, sans nerves. sans feelings, sans body that grows tired, sans all human qualities.
 It is a fime- worn axiom that