The Richmond palladium., 1856-05-29
EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY
D.P. HOLLOWAY, B. W. DAVIS s |. !. DRAKE.
OUR JOB DEPART MENT,
,isx>. REEDS ECONOMY.

wv nat Is that my dear asked Mr Teed
mildly looking up from hi- paper.
Il was excl4irning at the extravIgance o.
nv sex, exclaimed te pretty looking wo-
man. whose eyes had not yet recovered their
natural dimensions.
Heartily my dear. for hear this: There
gre in New York and Brooklin not less than
i've thousand ladies whose dress bill cannot
average annually not less than FIVE thousand
dollars each, or ten millions for all
'Prodigious" muttered the merchant. 'bu,
doubtless true
There are five thousand more,' exclaimed
the wife. continuing her reading. whose
dress expenses will average one thousand dol
lars each, or five millions OF dollars for the
whole number; and FIVE millions more would
not cover the dress expenses Of those whose
bills average every year from one to two hun
dred dollars
Thus at low estimate, the annual cost OF
DRESSING our fashionable ladies' Is twenty mil
lions Of dollars Perhaps We should not eK-
ceed the truth if we estimate the cost of dres-
sing and jeweiing the ladies Of New York and
vicinity at from thirty to forty millions of dol
lars
What wonder?' exclaimed the goodly in
dignant woman that poverty and suffering
are so rife in that city; only think. George.
twenty millions Of dollars. to say the least,
wasted in extravaganza and fineryl'
Yes resumed the husband, for thu bulk
Of the money is expended on foreign fabrics.
and goes on, Of the country TO pamper the
miserable toades Of the old world-that's S
Whist makes me angry TO think Of If the
money was spent among our producers. man
ufacturers and mechanics, the shame would
not be so burning: but no, it must bear the
stamp Of imported goods. or our ladies will
not look at the article. l saw some silk to.
Jay which I'll be bound some French aristo-
crst manufactured for his own windows. but
falling to give satisfaction. WAS sent over 70
the green Yankees. They wouldn't know
Of course not-nor care. as long ~ the obse.
qaious shopman declared it was Of Paris man.
ufacture.' And 50 we have curtains. with all
the fixtures. as likely as not, and best hang
ings too-oh 10 meet in our fashionable
promenades. dresses with figures larger than
the whole pattern. so that it takes two women
to show off one gown to advsntsge--it is
most laughable-but wife"
'Well-how your eyes twinkle.
1t has never occurred to me TO ask how
much you spend in dress for one year
%! but | am not fashionable. aud you are
no. rich
No matter for that; better dressed wo-
man than yourself doseu't walk the streets of
tie city. Now Tor that am not rich. | want
TO know how YOU do it
That is easy enough told. on little rehec
lion. replied Mr.. Reed FLUSHING. neverthe-
less-'you praised my new hat yesterday very
highly
Newer saw you look so sweet in my life.
Wan.ed TO kiss you on the spot. Lee, the
gentleman who was with me. declared he had
nos ma SO han i>oms ani well dressed a lady
since he left Boston. There's for you. and
he's New Yorker; but come wha, did Won
give for the bonnet. pinch in bread and but
ier ch? aud he pinched his wifes rosy cheek
NO. indeed she merriy replied you
know last week | asked YOU for three dollars;
well tina, was what the bonnet cost me
Ali Minnie-I'm not SO green as that
4 lady's bonnet three Gollars-a bonnet like
lhal
Blu; l made it myself. for have long been
confident thar milliner's time is worth TO
her dollar a minute, and that we pay more
or that than shape. material and ALL So |
nave made nv bonnets for the last two sea-
sons: this very frame wore velvet last winter
WAS curious 10 get milliner's Judgment up
'n IT. and Yesterday asked Miss to show
'ome ten dollar bonnets She did SO. and l
x'ali not exchange mine for any of them
Hsi hal
Why my black silk looks so fresh none Of
ny friends knew but l had bought new one
turned. altered. and trimmed it handsomely.
SAD yet the trimmings COS, only one dollar
and sixty cents; you see there's good deal
% taste she added blushingly
oyes. Mrs Self Conceit, then We nv
pa' the dress at one dollar and sixty cents
an. there's the new one-I forgot that. Al
1t cost twelve dollars. for make it point
% get good. rich silk. tha, it NAV bear turn
'ng or a change of pattern But | made
every stitch myself. with only little help
nom sister Annie.
'bu, the seams,ress, saw her.
Oh. she was sewing up the cotton for the
amiiy. ! always made it . point 20 employ
!, ssms OF my friends for that. and pay liberal
Soail tell you whs, it cost
NO. for We are upon dress--new gloves,
'uoss iaees. dc. Come. all the secrets of
y 9af marvellous extrsvagance. madam and /
~. heed hourished his pencil pompou.ly.
uioves. four dollars year said his wife.
p. 'na' At four dollars. for get the very
rom motives of economy; shoes, ssy
dollars. though l am not quite certain
. 80 much; ices. perhaps five dollars. hav-
vs. sooa assortment and taking care Of them
pressing gowns are Of French calico ths,
=. ,, !e. handsome after three years wear
- 70 oe more explicit. have KEEP. N accoun,
everything Of that kind. which | have
ss' within the last ten nonths. and nv
= ,s''ae dress. winter md all, has not exeeed-
% seventy five dollars
;lances. MS "e WIN e1uis'ng
4, And yet. he exclaimed. how we'll i, bo~
,horouyhiy pure and elegant taste you h.v.
ways appeared, my admirable .if. n, :.