in summer; and
in the majority of houses that stock must be arranged after six
P.M., the time varying, according to season, from fifteen minutes
to five hours, _and this without supper or extra pay_; thus
compelling women and children to go long distances late at night,
and rendering them liable to insult and immoral influences.

"Excessive fines are imposed in many stores,--fines varying from
ten to thirty cents for ten minutes' tardiness in the morning or
lunch hour, and for all mistakes. Cases are known of girls who have
been fined a full week's pay at the end of the week. In one store
the fines amounted to $3,000 in a year, and the sum was divided
between the superintendent and timekeeper; and the superintendent
was heard to charge the timekeeper with not being strict enough in
his duties.

"Bad sanitary conditions, bad ventilation and toilet arrangements
are common, and the sanitary laws are not observed. Children under
age are employed at work far beyond their strength, often far into
the night. The average wages do not exceed $4.50; and in one of our
largest stores the average wage is $2.40, in another $2.90. The
tendency in all stores is to secure the cheapest help; for this
reason school-girls just graduated are much sought for, as they,
having homes, can afford to work for less. But a large proportion
of the saleswomen either pay board or help support a family; and
how can this be done on $4.50 per week? The cheapest board in dark
stuffy attics or tenement houses is $3.00, fuel and washing extra;
and no woman can pay doctor's bills and maintain a respectable
appearance on what remains. How then does she live? There are two
ways of answering: The story of a woman who worked in one of our
large houses is one way. This woman earned $3.00 per week; she paid
$1.50 for her room; her breakfast consisted of a cup of coffee; she
had no lunch; she had but one meal a day. Many saleswomen must be
in this condition. The other answer is that given by more than one
employer, who when saleswomen complain of the low wages offered,
reply: 'Oh, well, get yourself a gentleman friend; _most of our
girls have them_.' Not long since a member of our society received
a letter from a salesman in a certain house which read thus: 'In
the name of God cannot so