Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-19
THE DAILY PRESS.
The Art Of Shopping.


We are all satisfied that gentlemen have
no genius for shopping. They are not equal
10 1T. Nature has left their faculties iu-
perfect in that particular. They can write
hooks and make speeches, and all that sort
OF thing, but they are not up to shopping.
II takes the ladies for that. Men 20 to
store, Select what they want, and buy it.
But that is not shopping; that requires no
genius. Men pretend they do not like to go
shopping with the ladies. l wonder who.
ever asked them ? What lady would have
such an incumbrance on such occasions
Men are well enough in their places
Young gentlemen are convenient to take us
to concerts, and see us home from church.
and bring us bouquets and music; and
husbands are useful to pay the bills, Sc,
but for shopping excursion they are quite
out of place. Do you understand me
to insinuate that i have distinguished ability
that way2 Not at all; only speak of my
sex. In fact, l acknowledge myself poor
hand at it. But my friend, Sallie R, is
n model shopper am taking lessons of
her, and hopeto be perfect by the time am
married: A few days ago she invited me
to 20 with her
/ al wish TO look at the new style Of silks"
said She
Why, do you want to get new dress?
asked.
"Really," said sallie, "if it was not i'm
polite, l should say that you were YER
dant l don't want address, but that's no
reason why should not see the material"
:. So Sallie and l sailed out. The first
store we entered she asked whether the
merchant had received his spring goods.
lie said he had, and inquired what she
would like to see.
"Show me your new style dress goods"
said she, such as barege robes, and lawn
robes and handsome striped plaid silks;
brocades and changeable silks are not much
worn this spring, but I'll look at your solid
colors"
The merchant soon had his counter spread
with goods. She examined and tossed them
about making various creases in them to
see whether they would come out again by
rubbing.
"What style is worn ?o said sallie to the
clerk ....
D." Well, we sell probably more plaid
silks than any other"
Have you any with chene stripes p in
quired Sallie.
"Oh, yes, some very fne," and number
of pieces were produced.
"Well, can't say, after all, that 1 like
the chene stripes the green is very pretty"
So Sallie held it in various lights, rub
bing it and creasing it.
dwell, it don't crease much" said she;
al wonder whether it will cutP
"No, it is boiled silk; and we find that
the plaid and stripes wear very well"
" Your silks are very pretty, and you
may cut off sample, if you please" con-
tinued Sallie.
This the merchant was forced to do,
though with rather bad grace, as most of
his goods were in patterns, and he feared
spelling the piece
"Will you be kind enough to give me
samples of the solid cloths p"
They were all furnished.
"This plaid you say is S1.37. Is that the
lowest~
"Yes we can't take less"
"How many yards in the pattern ?''
"Fourteen."
"Td rather have eighteen; perhaps 1
might conclude to have flounces. Well, I'll
take the sample and show it to my mother,
and then make up my mind. Have you any
Coates cotton2 Give me a spool, No. 49,"
This was handed her, she paid five cents,
and we left. 1 looked at my watch. We
had been there exactly one hour
"What a cheatl l can buy the spools
for four cents" said Sallie, when we were
fully out "and besides we forgot their
shawls."
So we went to another store.
"Have you any Stella shaws ?r
eyes, some beautiful ones just opened.
Would you like to see the broche borders or
printed ?'
Both"
"Any particular colors 2'
"No, sir; I'll look at them all" said
Sallie.
Different patterns and colors were ac-
cordingly produced
"What is the price of green center broche
border?"
I'VE can afford you that for SO; same
style sold for $15 two months ago"
Some printed borders were put up for
$3.50.
"NO prefer broche; but can't you take
less2"
saw twinkle in the merchants eye
which made me think he knew she was only
shopping
"Now," said he, "if you won't mention
it, I'll let you have it for Sc"
Sallie looked surprised; she knew the
article was selling at SO.
"Six dollars is that your lowest?"
"Well, to oblige you, l will say 81" said
the merchant.
A pause ensued.
"Then you. think $4 is the lowest2"
"Ahem! Have large lot and want to
dispose of them; ~ say $2.50r
Are you sure it is first rate piece of
goods?'
"Tll warrant it all silk and WOOL" said
the merchant.
My friend was caught. Turning to me
she whispered
al do wish had brought some money p
and then, addressing the merchant, said 4"
will cali again"
! never was so glod to get out of store
before, for the clerks had gathered around
US, seeming to understand the joke. But
Sallie went home, got the money, and in
sisted on me going with her to the store for
the shawl. The merchant said he was
sorry, very, but the shawl had just been
sold And SO was Sallie too, thought.
We went shopping no more that afternoon.
SOUTHERN TABLE OF CURRENcY.-The New
Orleans Deltajokes pleasantly enough abou
hard times, and seems disposed to put the
best face on q bad matter. In late mum.
ber it says:
=, The old table of school-boy days, "ten
mills make one cent, ten cents one dime
ten dimes one dollar" is played out A
dime or q dollar, in hard spelter, is a sigh
nooI g., IscaoaaI ovfiao and n 6ya-