Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-04-02
Buy AT Home.


Peared in The STAR lately which seemed TO in.
wife unfavcrable comparison in the matter of
prices between our merchants and those of
northern cities We have to saw that If any
tning liable TO any such construction appeared
IN our columns IL was an oversight, and was en-
trely opposed to the whole tenor of the views
set forth almost daily in THE STAR in regard to
the duty of the community to stand by its own
business men. Our growth and prosperity, as
we have many times urged, depends upon our
dealing at housekeeping our money here to
build mp the city-and not by sending it away
TO drain of the hfe-blood of the community
We have taken pains, many times, to correct the
mischievous fallacy that our citizens can do bet
ter by purchasing abroad than at home; and not
long ago we cited a number of instances where
Washingtonians, going to Northern cities for
wool, un the shape Of bargains,) came back
shorn. other instances might be readily cited
n lady correspondent of THE STAR told, not
long ago, in our columns, of the mistake she
ihade IN going North to buy carpeting, paving
more, as she afterwards found than IL sold for in
washington, and, of course, being minus in the
matter OF travelling expenses. wewere in a book
store yesterday when a Department clerk, who
was present, inquired the price Of handsome
boie on the shelves and on being told that 1t was
- expressed surprise and some ANNOYANCE. saw
ing that he had paid 81 in Boston for the sams
Kind OF Bible, and had also paid 81 IS EXPRESS
charges on IT; supposing that he was PURCHASING
10 much better advantage there than he could
IN washington. A gentleman formerly con-
nected with the Smithsonian Institution who has
recently gone into the book business in Spring
Held, Mass, wrote lately to a Washington book
seller ordering quantity offoreign stereoscopic
views, saying that after examining the stocks in
New York and Boston, he found none SO salts
factory In price, freshness, or variety as those
supplied in Washington. There was no reason
why this should not be the case since the Wash
ington bookseller made his importations direct.
and was guided by good taste and jud ymsnt in
his purchases. The beautiful wares which
attract 30 much attention on the White House
tables were purchased at Washington crockery
stores, after inspection had been made
of all that Philadelphia and New
York could show in that lne gentle
man who bought three or four dozen
gutta-pereha handle table knives of a new
pattern in New York the other day, had the
modification to find that he could have got
them here dollar per dozen cheaper than he
paid in New York, and saved the freight. A
lady who has been In the habit for some years
OF making special trips to the North, at consid-
cradle expense, for the purchase OF dry-goods.
last week wished to match piece of goods she
had bought the day before in New York and
was both agreeably, and, Tin view Of the past)
disagreeably, surprised to find that she could
get 1t twenty-five cents a yard cheaper here
than she paid in New York. A Bostouiau
had occasion to 60 into one OF our shoe
stores for a PAIR of slippers, and coming
from the headquarters of leather goods had a
curiosity to ascertain what washingtonians had
10 pay for boots and shoes, and was rather taken
aoaek on finding that pair of boots he wore
and which bap a. -
dupl cIted by the Washington dealer for so.
Years ago some people used to fancy that they
could buy clothing cheaper at the North than
mere out with the present active competition and
large STOCKS, prices are so low here that nobodv
now thinks ofpurchasing clothing at the North
The same Is true OF jewelry. Visitors to Wash
ington almost invariably notice the fact that
three or four of our jewelry stores are not sur
passed by the same number in any city in the
lhlOn- WashiDgton-made carriages have a
reputation all through the country for excel
lenee, having been introduced in almost every
State through purchases made here by men,
berS OF Congress and others; and 1t is a curious
instance OF how carriage-makers as well As
prophets may be honored more abroad than at
nome, that a Washingtonian lately purchased
carriage that struck his fancy at a Philadel-
phia coach-shop, and found after he had oot IL
home that IT was made in Washington We
mIght extend these instances into every branch
OF business and trade carried on in Washing
ton, but these will serve as illustrations.
Among the reasons why our Washington dealers
are able to do better by our citizens than the
latter can do elsewhere, is the fact that they pay
less rent for the same business accommodations
than do the dealers in the great cities. Nearly
all our merchants are men of experience
and judgement, knowing what to buy and
when, and DO not get stuck with IN
salable goods their shelves They buy
judieiously and can sell as low as dealers any
where; and purchasers here have also the ad-
vantage of buying Of men who have a home
reputation to sustain, whereas If they buy in
northern cities they buy OF strangers, who have
no interests in common with them as fellow
citizens, and who. regarding them as casual Gus
toners they may never see again, are pretty
sure 10 ''stick them either in the price, or the
quality CT the goods.