The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-06-10
CONCERNING SHOPPING.
Some Interesting and Valuable Sug.
geStiOnS for the Ladies.


Some Interesting and Valuable Sug.
gestiOns for the Ladies.
MARY wager-Fisher, ia Rural New Yorker.l
To go to ''town' to shop or &c trade
is for many country women an event of
real importance and often of very great
fatigue, especially where the wants are
many and there is only little money to
cover them. To be obliged to select
and to decide upon fabrics or furniture
within a given time. is particularly
wearisome to women who, as class, are
not trained to decide quickly in affairs of
business. Ea
In order to shop expediiously, you
should begin week or two beforehand
and make a4list of everything you need
to buy, or hope to be able to buy. After
this list is complete, revise it by putting
groceries III column by themselves,
and do the same with motions" which
include needles, pins, thread, buttons,
trimmings, etc., and classify fabrics in
the same way. In making this revised
list place at the top of the columns the
most important articles-those that must
be had ut all events. Give yourself
plenty of room, so that opposite each
article you can note down the quantity
required, with space also left for what
you pay for it. With this prepared list
in hand, you know very nearly what you
want; nothing is forgotten and you are
saved from confusion. In making your
purchases first buy the material things,
and then use the means left for those
next in order.
I have shopped in many cities and
villages, and with all my shopping 1
have found that I get the best salts
faction and the most for my money when
go to first-class place where there is
no deviation from fixed price, and
where | have reason to believe that the
shop or store is conducted In an honest
way. / have never found it profitable
to go from store to store hoping to find
an article at less price. A good arti-
Gle is never "cheap, " and it is reasona-
BILE to suppose that large dealer can
supply goods at a lower price than a
small dealer can. But it is not wise to
buy an article that does not suit you,
and in order to be suited it is, of course,
sometimes necessary to go from shop to
shop. There is one sort clerk by
whom those who are not very strong
minded are in danger Of being imposed
upon-the clerk that tries to bully you
into buying what you do not want. At
the outset it is best to recognize the fact
that the business of the clerk is to show
you goods, but that you are by no means
under obligations to buy. If you wish
to look at goods with view to future
purchase, say SO, and the clerk, if he is
obliging, will show them to you cheer
fully without urging you to buy at the
time. No good woman will unnecessary
~ consume the time of clerks, as she
values her own time too much to
waste it. M
In buying many articles, the buyer is
no judge Of their quality, and under
such circumstances it is best to trust to
the experience andyhonesty of the per-
son of whom you buy. Especially is this
true of silks and the finer class of fabrics.
There is nothing gained, as a rule, in
pretending to be wiser than you are, or
assuming to yourself capabilities that
you do not possess. In ninety-nine cases
out of 100 the average woman might as
well buy black silk for her frock with
her eyes shut and her hands tied as to
look at it and finger it for half day.
In buying ready-made clothing, look
well at the sewing. If there are rufles,
examine the hemming. If you are buy
ing suits for children, ask for pieces of
the same to patch elbows and knees.
Before having the articles worn, see that
the buttons are well sewed on, and
fasten the ends of all seams so that there
will be no ripping.
In buying bonnets or hats, never in
vest in cheap white straw. Especially
for children do not choose such, nor
white straw trimmed with cheap light
coiored stuff and fimsy artificial flowers.
Select, instead, stout brown or black
straw of good quality and simply
trimmed. Such hat will look well I'M
til worn out, and not be spoiled by rain
or damp weather. If one child out
grows it 1t will do for the next one.
Train your children to prefer plain,
substantial things to cheap and snowy
ones.
For boys from 81 years of age and up
ward, it is fashionable as well as sensi-
bic to make their drawers of the same
material as that used for their frocks.
If ready made suits of cloth are bought,
you can find flannel of similar color
for the drawers.
Stockings are very expensive item in
child's wardrobe, and any suggestion
as to how the knees may be saved will, /
am sure, be acceptable to mothers.
'tCreepers are sold at the shops for
this purpose, but they can be home
made. To square or oblong piece of
thick cloth, large enough to cover the
knee well, two elastics are attached at
each end to the opposite corners of the
cloth-the elastics passing around the
under side of the leg, one above and the
other below the knee, being of length
to hold the cloth firmly to the knee.
Another method some mothers employ
is to take part of the leg of worn-out
stockings and draw it over the knee of
the youngster after his stockings are on.
An old stocking is also the best material
to use for lining the knees of stockings,
because of its elasticity. 1t is an econo-.
my and convenience to buy stockings
of one color year in and year out, as
you then have to supply yarn of but one
color for all the darning. "Odd " stock
ings can be paired and mended more
easily end satisfaction accomplished.