sister carrie

Chapter 5 (1)

Chapter 3 We have kowtowed to fate: every four yuan five (1)
As soon as she crossed the river and came to the wholesaler lot, she looked around to see which one she could apply for.She looked at the big windows and the swaggering businessmen, and she felt someone staring at her, and saw what she was—a job seeker.She had never done such a thing before, so she lacked courage.In order to avoid the indescribable humiliation of being seen through as a desperate job seeker, she quickened her pace, pretending to be indifferent like a person who is usually busy.In this way, she walked past the doors of many manufacturers and wholesalers, but never looked inside.Later, after walking for several blocks, she felt that this was not a solution after all, so she looked around again, but her pace did not slow down. After walking not far, she saw the gate of a family. her attention.There is a brass door plate hanging on the door, as if it is the entrance of a building with six or seven floors.She thought: "Maybe they need help." She stepped through the gate.

About two inches away from the target, I looked in through the window and saw a young man in gray checked clothes.Whether he had anything to do with the store she could not tell, but just because he was looking in her direction frightened her feeble heart and hurried past, too ashamed to go in.On the other side of the street, there is a big six-story building called Steuen-King Company. Seeing it, she felt hopeful.This is a large silk shop, which employs female shop assistants.She saw them coming and going on the second floor.She decided to go into this family, regardless of success or failure.She crossed the street and headed for the door.As she went in, two men came out and stood by the door.A telegram-delivery postman in a blue uniform hurried past her, climbed the doorsteps, and entered.Among the people hurrying by on the sidewalk, a few pedestrians passed by while she hesitated.She looked around resignedly, and, sensing that she was being watched, drew back.It was such a difficult thing to do, she couldn't walk in front of them.

Such a serious failure dealt a great blow to her spirit.She walked forward mechanically with two feet, and every step she took was a step of escape on purpose.Walked a block and a block.At a few corners she saw names like Madison, Monroe, LaSalle, Clarke, Diapon, Sturt, and so on, and she kept going, really well on the flagstones. I'm a little tired.The streets were bright and clean, which pleased her a little.The morning sun was getting warmer and warmer, and the shaded side of the street was cool and pleasant.She looked up at the blue sky, never felt so charming.

Her timidity was beginning to bother her a little.She turned back, determined to find Sturgeon & King, and went in.On the way, she saw a leather shoe wholesale company. Through the large glass window, she saw the management department separated by frosted glass.Outside the closet, just before the street entrance, a gray-haired gentleman sat at a small table with a large account book open before him.She passed by here several times, hesitating in her heart, but when she found that no one was paying attention to her, she timidly walked past the screen, stood aside, and waited humbly.

"Oh, little girl," said the old gentleman, looking at her kindly, "what do you want?"

"I mean, can you--I mean, do you need help?" she stammered.

"Not at the moment," he replied with a smile. "Not at the moment. Come back in a few weeks. We need someone every now and then."

She listened to the answer in silence, then backed out in embarrassment.She was so pleasantly received, which was a surprise to her.She had expected it to be much more difficult, to say harsh, harsh things—she couldn't say exactly what to say.It was remarkable that she was not humiliated this time, and made to feel her own wretchedness.

After summoning up some courage, she walked into another building, which was a clothing company, and there were quite a few people—there were more than 40 people in neat clothes, surrounded by copper railings.

A young waiter came towards her.

"Which one do you want to see?" he asked.

"I want to see the manager," she said.

He walked away and spoke to one of the three men who were discussing things.One of them came up to her.

"Huh?" he said coldly.The greeting immediately swept away her courage.

"Do you want help?" she stammered.

"No," he said gruffly, turning and walking away.

She walked out with a silly expression.The small tea room respectfully opened the door for her, and she hurriedly blended into the crowd.This was a serious setback to her cheerful mood of late.

Now she wandered aimlessly for a while, seeing one big company after another, but never again had the courage to ask her only question.It's noon, and I'm hungry.She found an unremarkable restaurant and went in, only to find to her regret that it was too expensive for her purse.She could only afford a bowl of soup, which she drank quickly and walked out.This can restore some of her energy, and she can somehow muster up the courage to continue looking for a way.

After walking a few blocks to identify possible targets, she came upon Sturgeon-King again.This time, she finally walked in.A few gentlemen were talking in the vicinity, but they paid no attention to her.She just had to stand there with her eyes on the floor.In the midst of her embarrassment, a man greeted her from a few desks in the nearby railing.

"Which one are you looking for?" he asked.

"Well, any one," she replied, "I'm looking for work."

"Oh, you might as well meet Mr. McManus," she replied. "Sit down." He pointed to a chair beside him against the wall.He continued to write slowly, and after a while, a short and fat man came in from the street.

"Mr. McManus," said the man at the desk, "this young woman wants to see you."

The little gentleman turned towards Carrie, and she rose and went towards him.

"Can I do something for you, miss?" he asked, eyeing her curiously.

"I wanted to see if I could get a job," she asked.

"What job?" he asked.

"Anything," she stammered.

"Have you ever worked in the wholesale silk business?" he asked.

"No, sir," she replied.

"Are you a stenographer or a typist?"

"Neither, sir."

"Ah, there is nothing we can do for you. We only hire experienced help."

She stepped back towards the door when the melancholy look on her face struck him.

"Where have you worked before?" he asked.

"No, sir," she said.

"Well, it's hard for you to find a job in this kind of wholesale business. Have you ever asked a department store?"

She said she hadn't.

"Oh, if I were," he said, looking at her kindly, "I'd try the department stores. They often require young women as sales assistants."

"Thank you," she said, and this little spark of kindness made her feel a little lighter.

"Yeah," he said, as she was walking toward the door, "you try a department store." He walked away.

At that time, department stores had just emerged and their business was booming, but there were not many of them.The first three in the United States opened around 1884 and were located in Chicago.Carrie knew the names of several stores from the advertisements in the Daily News, and she was looking for them now.McManus's words somehow bolstered her already sapped courage, and she now boldly hoped that the road would lead her to something.She spent some time looking, thinking she might find the buildings by chance.When people concentrate on a difficult and urgent matter, they often find relief from self-deception, and this psychology is often seemingly sought, but actually produced by no practice.She later asked a police officer, who told her to "walk up two blocks" and she would find the "bazaar."

Should such large retailing organizations ever disappear for good, it would still be an interesting chapter in the commercial history of our country.The world has hitherto never seen such a flourishing of commerce on such an ordinary scale.They follow the line of the most efficient retail organization, coordinating hundreds of thousands of stores into one organization, and their economic base is very solid.These shops are prosperous, the business is booming, making money, there are many shop assistants, and there are batches of regular customers.Carrie walked along the lively passages, but the decorations, dresses, stationery, and jewels were so dazzlingly beautiful.Every counter is an exhibition that dazzles the eye.She could not help feeling that each adornment was lovely to her, and would enhance her features, but she did not stop.There was nothing she didn't need, and there was nothing she didn't want all the time.Delicate slippers and socks, elegant frilly skirts and waistcoats, lace, ribbons, combs, wallets, all filled her with the desire to possess them, and she was sorely unable to afford any of them.She was a job seeker, an unemployed vagabond, and the average clerk could tell at a glance that she was poor and desperate for work.

But don't think that she can be mistaken for a nervous, sensitive and excitable woman, unfortunately thrown into this cruel, snobbish and vulgar world.Of course she wasn't like that.Women, however, are always particularly sensitive to dressing.

(End of this chapter)