The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's WorkPenny, Virginia
General
The Employments of Women: A Cyclopædia of Woman's Work
Penny, Virginia
Women -- Employment
I have been told the openings for saleswomen are better
farther East than in New York. A lady told me she used to get $1 a day
in R.'s store on Broadway, and the other saleswomen got the same price.
Then she was on her feet nearly all the time. She was there at eight and
staid till seven: all were expected to take their dinner and eat in the
store. Mrs. H. told me she knew a lady that stood in a store on Chestnut
street, Philadelphia, who received a salary of $800 a year. When girls
first go into a store, they usually get $1 a week during the season
(three months), then $1.50, and so increase. A pretty good knowledge of
store keeping is acquired by a smart person in six months, and now
ladies are relieved in large stores from the responsibility of making
change. Many of the ladies in New York stores are Irish. American ladies
are more engaged in making artificial flowers, bookfolding, &c. I was
told rather a novel feature in the life of shop girls, viz.: that many
board from home, for the sake of having company; and in addition to
this, men, earning good wages, but of disreputable character, will often
board in low houses, and ingratiate themselves into the favor of the
girls, until they work the ruin of one or more. Mr. D. employs five
ladies, and pays them from $3 to $5. He prefers ladies. When he takes
beginners, he pays $1.50 a week, and better wages as they become more
capable. He has paid $8, and even $9 a week. The ladies are in the store
from eight to half past eight. He allows them to sit when no customers
are in and there is nothing doing. A lady with whom I talked, and who
had stood in a store on Catherine street, New York, finds the occupation
very injurious, because of having to be on her feet so constantly, and
its lasting from 7 A. M. until 9 P. M. In some stores they are obliged
to remain until eleven, and even twelve, in busy seasons. On Grand and
Catherine streets, New York, they keep open very late. She says, when
the weather is dull, and there are but few customers, employers are apt
to be cross and vent their bad feelings on the girls. And in those
stores the girls cannot sit down to take a stitch for themselves; but,
when there are no customers to wait on, they must make up undersleeves,
capes, and caps for the store. She now keeps a millinery and fancy
store, and pays her girls $5 a week, and the girls are in the store from
seven to nine. They make up bonnets, when not waiting on customers, and
so have a change of posture without a loss of time. She has a friend in
a Broadway store, that receives $1 a day. A saleswoman should know how
to make out accounts. Ability to speak the French and German languages
is a most valuable acquisition to a saleswoman in our cities. One
discouraging feature in the history of saleswomen is, that their wages
are not advanced like those of men. In Detroit, Michigan, girls receive
from $3 to $5 for standing in a store. "In Cleveland, in 1854, there was
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