The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-03

Recent importations of fine silk stock
ings for ladies are simpler in design
than were former fashions. Striped hose
are gone. So also are those fancy things
which were adorned with flowers and
birds and snakes,
To reporter bright, clever sales
woman in retail store said: 1.-THE
styles tIis year are-I was going to say
they are just too lovely for anything,
but you newspaper men make so much
fun OF that expression, guess [ won't
use it. But indeed the new styles are
lovely. They are in such exquisite
shades; will show you somep Certain
ly. This is the latest shade. It's
called the electric blue. Everything's
electric blue this winter. Too paleP
Yes, 1 think so. too. Now, here's some
of the newest heavy ribbed goods. Did
you ever see anything 30 neat and SO
pretty and so richP Here's a silver
lavender, and here's turquoise, and
here's Russian blue, and here's a jet
black, and here's an orange, and-Oh,
Just look-here's the ashes Of rosel
Isn't it perfectly beautiful In my
opinion the ashes of rose-here's the
ashes of rose-but beg pardon, what
did you say? Can we tell by the size
of the foot whether the stocking will fit
the ankle? Oh, yes; you see-but won't
you please excuse me here comes one OF
my customers. I'll send our buyer to
you. He knows great deal more about
hosiery than do. Indeed he does"
There's no trouble about the fit"
said the buyer. ''Fine silk is very
elastic. 1t will give either in breadth
or length. Ifit Is too broad it will be-
come the right size by pulling it up
higher. See how this stocking stretches.
1t will fit the leg like kid glove fits the
hand. The sizes range from eight to
ten. In Baltimore the average is from
eight to eight and a half. In Boston
and Chicago it is from nine to nine and
half, and in New York from eight and
half to nine. 1t is well known fact
among hosiery dealeas that the women
in Baltimore have the smallest feet in
the country. Why, there's not a day
passes without some lady asking for
seven and half, which is girls size.
said 'asKing,' but that was a slip of
the tongue. They don't ask for any
particular size. Nor do we guess at
the size. We show them the different
shades, and they make their selections
apparently without noticing the size.
There, are of course, exceptions to this,
but why most of the women of Baltimore
should be so diplomatic about buying
stockings is something can't see any
reason for. If / were in Boston or
Chicago or st. Louis L could readily
understand the object.
"Yes, there are lots of high-priced
stockings sold III Baltimore. Here's a
pair worth S15. This style is known as
the Czarna, Each stocking is mads in
pairs and then woven together after the
manner Of an Indian shawl. There are
four or five distinct colors In this design.
The Czarins, the sandal fronts and other
freaks of fancy designing, are worn in
the evening and at parties. Black stock
ings are worn at all times and are very
popular. The foot and ankle look
smaller in black than In any other color.
"The fashions in hosiery are set by
the women themselves. When l went
to Europe this summer, found that
the manufacturers had been making
striped hose. AS the tendency in tins
country was toward solid colors, Ameri =
can buyers give orders accordingly,
The striped was Immediately put aside,
and the manufacture OF solid colors be-
gun. They are now working day and
night to supply the demand. The best
silk stockings sell from 81 to Sl0 g, pair,
Silk hose for babies sell for 80 a
pair,