The Cost of Love.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 878, 28 December 1888, Page 4

The Cost of Love.

HOW CUPID CAN MAKE SAD HAVOC IN A DRY GOODS STORE. * One of the worst things we have to contend with in our business, aB far as our unmarried male and female employes are concerned, ’ said a dry goods man, ‘ is love. When a young lady, say in the hosiery department, falls in love with a nice young man in the dress goods department, or any other department for that matter, there is trouble ahead for the employers. If the young man should happen to return the young lady’s affection the trouble is doubled. How does this make any difference to us? In nine cases out of ten the tender passion unfits its victims for work in the same dry goods store. This is especially so in the case of the young ladies. Once they get in love with a young man at another counter their minds, instead of being at their own counters, are continually at the young man’s counter. The result of this is that the love-smitten maid is absentminded and inattentive to business. I have seen many a bright young woman who was very valuable to us become utterly worthless behind her counter simply because she got to thinking more of a good-looking young man at some other counter than she did of our business. ‘lt’s the same way with the young men too. When they get too far gone there ia only one thiDg left for us to do, and that Is to discharge them and fill their places. I confess I always regret to take this step.

and I never do it unless in self-defence. But when the trouble reaches a certain stage there is no alternative. Of course we go about it in a roundabout way, and never give the real cause for dispensing with their services. We explain that business is dull or something of that sort, and never let on that the little passion they nurse so tenderly has sacrificed their positions in the store.—N. Y. Times.