Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/753

 TIVO WEEKS IN DEPARTMENT STORES 733

please and so uncivil ; and they made us feel like criminals because of our inability to do what apparently could not be done. Then there was the well-meaning buyer who persisted in asking us how much wages we got. Just why saleswomen should be subjected to such rudeness by seemingly intelligent people is difficult to see. One rather independent girl, on being asked this question for the fifth time one day, replied that she got ten dollars a week, and added: "How much do you get ?" The questioner was a gentleman of clerical appearance, and he replied : " My dear young woman, I am afraid your surround- ings are corrupting your good manners ! " Then he passed on, doubtless feeling very righteous over his reproval.

On the whole, the week there passed quickly, and on Satur- day night I decided to leave and try my fortune elsewhere. I thought that one week each in two stores would be better than the whole time spent in one. I told the manager that I wanted my pay because I was going to leave. He was rather abusive and said : " What do you want to leave for ? You are making good money ; you girls want the earth." I left that night with my two dollars in my pocket ; my commission could not be obtained till the following week. Wages are always paid weekly there.

I was " out of a job," and trusted to luck to find another.

Sunday in the home was a quiet day. Everybody was tired and discouraged. There had been extra work, but no extra pay, and there were so many Christmas things to be bought. Sunday had to be the general mending day, and that day many were making little gifts for the friends at home. Most of the girls were sensible about dress, and they guarded their small earnings carefully. I guided my expenditure by theirs and kept an accu- rate account of my expenses for the week. The items are here presented:

Board for one week $2.5°

Car fare, 6 days," @ loc. ..... ,6o

Lunch, 5 days, @ 15c. .75

" I day, @ IOC. .10

'Many of the girls walked as far as two miles to save car fare.