he salesperson. The top
check is sent with the goods to the mail-order sorting section, and the
duplicate is sent to the cash office, just the same as though it were
actual money. This duplicate check represents so much money and is taken
in payment for goods. Great care is exercised in making out these
checks. Not only is one half treated as cash, but the other half goes
with the goods direct to the customers, showing them exactly how their
money has been spent. These checks must be written plainly with good
figures, and give a full description of goods, prices, etc. The date,
exact time purchase is made, the department bought from, sales number
and order number, must all appear on each check, and all have such
important relations to the work that any omission or carelessness cannot
be allowed. On their purchasing card they enter the number of the order
they are buying, and enter this same number on every check belonging to
that order, also entering each purchase as bought on the purchasing card
by department, sales number, and amount. When the purchase is completed,
the order and purchasing card are handed to a shipping clerk, who
examines the order as to shipping instructions, enters the name and
address and how goods are to be shipped on this card, when they are
passed to a clerk who examines the order carefully, to see that
everything has been bought correctly, no omissions made, all additions
correct, and who, when satisfied that the order is executed properly in
every particular, sends the order with proper charge slip attached back
to the book-keeper, and the purchasing card is sent to the sorting or
inspecting room, where goods in the meantime have been sent.

Assembling and Packing Mail-Order Goods.

This assembling section is arranged to provide space for goods until
each order is completed. Under a system largely made use of by several
houses, the original number stamped on the order and entered by the
buyer on every check belonging to that order is here made use of as the
sorting number. Sorting tables are arranged for receiving goods, and are
numbered from one to ten. Checks accompany all goods, and if the number
of the check is say 2,617, the goods are placed on No. 7 table; if check
is number 2,618, goods would be placed on No. 8 table, and so on. The
last figure on every check denotes the table it is to be placed on, and,
as orders are numbered consecutively as they are received, the goods are