Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-04-18
How They 10 IL,

In New York there are places where
forty or fifty drcss-coats are let out every
evening during the ball season to those who
cannot afford to buy such luxury, but
who, rather than be without one, pay a
handsome interest on the Investment.
These garments are generally imported
from England. They cost at wholesale
from S. TO SO, and can be imported from
$40 to SIS. They lack, of course, the
lustre and finish Of first-class article, but
at night, and in crowded room, very or
d'nary cloth passes muster. These the
costumer lets out for So to S. for the
evening, according to the customer, who
must come well recommended or leave a
deposit. Should the customer require
pants and vest, with the white and coIored
insertions as at present worn, he is taken
into private apartment and allowed to
suit himself. 1t costs So to hire the vest
and pants. A youth witha judIcious mind
and some little eXpclencein purchasing on
the Bowery can 90 and buy pair of solcd
gloves at from fifty to seyenty-fivc cents.
For fifty cents he can have his hand meas
ured at place on Eighth street, near the
Cooper Union, for pair OF gloves made of
rat skin. These are furnished in an hour,
and for an evenings wear answer the pur-
pose, and, lii fact, il one is not judge, this
spurious article is often passed for kid, and
high prices are obtained. Those with an
economical turn of mind generally get a
couple of pairs Of gloves, and after the first
dance the cleanest pair is removed. Peo-
pie are not so tastidiOus about clean gloves
late on in the evening, and if the goods arc
Of first quality, three pairs can he made to
last the season, and for thirty cents be af-
forwards dyed SO as to be worn in the
street Perhaps your hat requires rCjuve-
mating, and if so there are many places
where old hats renew their youth, and the
most dilapidated castor, provided the felt
be good, can be made to appear as good as
new. The charge for this is $l,2j.
On the Bowcry there are number Of
jewelry junk-shops, where, fer collateral
security, such as household furniture &C.,
jewelry is loaned at a moderate price. A
lady can provide herself for the evening
with fine cheap French goods, now so OK.
tcnsyely worn, and which can hardly be
distinguished from the genuine. In fact,
all jewelers. are in the habit OF lending val
liable sets of diamonds on security at one
per cent, for twenty four hours, as they
cannot afford to lose the interest on such
valuable stocks and not readily disposed OIL.
The following hgurcs give the cost Of a
ball outfit: A $50 silk skirt, So a $50
opera cloak, So sos opera hat, 50, pair
of cheap kids, so cents; hire of S25 set Of
joweIry, 50. Total, $3.50.
Thus, at the expense of about $40, a
young lady can 60 to a ball or opera with
clothes valued at about $l30 and jewelry
that looks to be worth $500.
There are also a number Of secondhand
clothes dealers, who go around and buy
cast of apparel and goods out Of style.
These they dye black, and those undertake
eIs who Go business mostly with the poorer
classes arc enabled to provide, in addition
to other funeral trappings, black coat, pants
and hats, worth from So to SIS, for So.
The hats are bought from gentlemen and
servants for twelve cents apiece, and when
rejuvcnated are worth $3.50 to g. Me-
chanics patronizc these sccond-h hand clothes
emporiums TO great extent, and are
thereby enabled to crafty a taste for dress
far beyond their means. On Oyercoats 4
deposit is required, and dollar is charged
for the loan Of one for twenty-four hours.