rmy and the visitor
has a wet umbrella, he may leave it in charge of the aforesaid boy, who
gives him a check for it. He can reclaim it at any time by presenting
this check. As he enters he is met at the door by a well-dressed
gentleman of easy address, who politely inquires what he wishes to
purchase. Upon stating his business, he is promptly shown to the
department in which the desired articles are kept, and the eye of the
conductor is never removed from him until he has attracted the attention
of the clerk from whom he makes his purchase. All this is done, however,
without allowing him to see that he is watched. This espionage is
necessary to guard against robbery. The city merchants are greatly
annoyed, and are often subjected to heavy loss, by professional
shoplifters, who throng their stores. The shoplifters do not constitute
the only thieves, however. Women of respectable position, led on by
their mad passion for dress, have been detected in taking small but
costly articles, such as laces, handkerchiefs, etc., from some of the
principal houses. Such matters have usually been "hushed up" through the
influence of the friends of the offender. The opportunities for theft
are very great in the city stores. Hundreds of small articles, many of
them of considerable value, lie within easy reach of the customers, and
all the employes are obliged to exert the greatest watchfulness. Private
detectives are employed by the principal houses, and as soon as a
professional shoplifter enters, he or she is warned off the premises by
the detective, whose experience enables him to recognize such persons at
a glance. A refusal to profit by this warning is followed by a summary
arrest.

The salesmen are not allowed to receive the pay for their sales. They
take the purchaser's money, make a memorandum in duplicate of the sale,
and hand both the papers and the money to a small boy who takes it to the
cashier. If any change is due the purchaser, the boy brings it back.
The articles are also remeasured by the clerks who do them up in parcels,
to see if the quantity is correct. The purchase is then delivered to the
buyer, or sent to his residence. Thus the house is furnished with a
check on all dishonest salesmen, and at the same time acquires accurate
knowledge of their labors in their respective departments.

The small boys referred to are called "cash boys," and are now a
necessity in a well regulated establishment. Go