Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-09-28
Some CuriOsitfeS Of Modern Ex-
change.

Some CurlOsitfeS Of Modern En-
change.
SOMEWHERE in one of Mr.. Troll
lope's many novels figures, if we re-
member rightly, a worthy lady, the
wife Of a country medical man veXed
with impecunious patients and large
family, who remarks pathetically that,
for her part, she does not at all hold
with the belief that 6 sorrow crown
of sorrow is remembering happier
days. but that, on the contrary, she
has found the great bitterness of life
to consist in its many little troubles,
which would be nothing if they came
singly, but are terrible from their
multitude. This profound reflection
she enforces with the appropriate IL
lustration that, on the whole, the
children's boots worry her much more
than an execution in the house.
A curious light is let in upon these
little troubles and their nature by a
paper which calls itself The Bazaar,
Ercha1age and Mart, and Journal Of
the Household, and which is published
twice week, at the moderate price of
twopence. Its object is sufficiently
indicated by its names. By a system
of very cheap advertisements, charged
for at the rate of a penny for every
three words, people, to whom it is
clear every penny is an object, are en-
abled to communicate with one an
other, and to effect a small saving by
exchanging old thing for old, or buy
ing old things cheaply instead Of going
to the expense of new.
With the ladies the great object ap-
pears to be, to quote a Well-knoWn
title, :" to dress like lady on e15 ($75)
a year." as means to which they
seem TO endeavor to pick up the cast
off finery of women a little better off
than themselves, and to get rid of their
own to those who are even poorer.
We can trace the course of the "iovely
cerise satin striped grenadine polo
naise, richly trimmed silk and lace"
of the "pearl gray gros-grain silk,
trimmed drapings and fringe, back all
made in one, made to order at j.
Marguerite and Gle, Rue de la Paix,
Paris, fit slight figure, five feet one and
a half inches; can show bill never
been worm" and of the "exquisite
silk and cashmere dress just from
Paris, elegantly draped; uncommon
dark color; new" from the lady to her
lady's maid, and from her to the shop
girl or small BRIDESMAIDS daughter in
the suburbs. and from her again down
to the poor maid-of all-Work, who
wants something "stylish'' in which
to pay Sunday visit to Rosherville or
"'appy'' Hampton.
The demand for furs, in anticipation
Of the approaching winter, is very
brisk, the chief favorite being evident
Goethe were now alive he would
make his hero tempt Marguerite, not
with jewels, but with ''full-sized
sealskin jacket and muff ''-possibly
with "stylish rink hat to match.
The trade in bOnnets is less brisk, the
reason being that any girl who is at all
clever with her fingers can, for few
shillings, make herself a bonnet which
would sell in Regent street for three
or four guineas.
On the other hand, such articles as a
fashionable new high crown drab hat
which girl cannot make for her.
self by any skill or industry-seem to
fetch a good price. To procure a COW
eted novelty of this kind young ladies
are apparently willing to dispose, at
perfectly reckless sacrifice, of such ar
ticles as ga splendid toilet set," or
ian deliberately carved ivory card
case" or "splendid solid silver card
case-exquisite workmanship" or ga
handsome gold bracelet, with pend
ant, or even-we are sorry to observe
ia large sponge bath, nearly new"
LONDON Examiner.