The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-01-27

SuoHSS -iiililueu iduy, eMpnaGcdlly Dut
to continue with my Aunt Lizzie. Ono
day she came home with huge pink
sheet, which she had folded into as
small a compass as she possibly could,
and stuffed under her sealskin jacket
Look here, Philip, she said to her hus-
band, isn't this deliciously cheap |
thing? Fancy! only paid a penny |
per yard,
"'What's it for?' said Philip, with a
grunt. 4 don't sec what the use Of it is.
1t may be cheap, but what's it for?'
We'll, dear said Lizzie, meditative-
", Il don't know what its for, I'm sure,
but it would have been perfect sin to let |
it 90 by at such a ridiculously low price.
It'll come-in useful some time
''She had a wardrobe" continued the |
strong-minded lady, perfectly full OF
remnants she had bought at sales and
subsequently made into dresses. Some
times she kept the remnants for years
before she had them made up. They
were consequently most old fashioned,
and frequently have heard people say:
There is Lizzie with one of the dresses
Noah's wife wore when she came out OF
the ark. In other points my aunt was
perfectly sensible. She could talk poll
tics like u professional politician, was
well versed on the literature of the day, ]
and entertained friends in graceful and +
charming manner. But to see her rise
at an early hour of the morning and go
off to sale at the same time her hus-
| band left for business, not to return I'M
til he did, late at night, was a heart
rending spectacle. | couldn' t reason
her out of such proceedings though |
| tried my hardest to do 50. She was
quite obdurate. l suppose you know"
continued the strong-minded lady, ''that
bargain-hunters are really the most I'M
worldly people living. A lady, let us
say, can obtain certain article at Har
lem for iifty-two cents. Very good.
She hears, however, that in Twenty
third street the same thing is sold at
forty-eight cents. At once she jumps
up and goes down town. She pays ten
cents to the elevated road for her jour
ney down and ten cents for her return.
But she says: Ihave otwhat wanted
for forty-eight cents, while at Harlem it
would have cost four cents more. She
has positively no idea that the article in
reality has cost her sixty-eight cents.
She would laugh at you if you were to
endeavor to convince her of that fact. "
'She's an exception said the young
companion, with smile.
Don't you believe it, commanded
the lady of the vigorous mind, almost
stirring the bottom out of the cup which
contained her chocolate. ''She's no ex-
ception. don't say, either, that She
the rule, but assert that she represents
a very large class of bargain-hunting
ladies. should recommend complete
course of logic as Il remedy of what
must consider as an abnormal state Of
mind. Doctors may say what they like
about female foibles, but I'm a female
and 1 know what those foibles should be
l suppose you have never heard thai
there exist ladies who make it a part O.
their daily duty to visit the principa
stores of the city, look at quantities O.
goods, and never buy cents worth.
assure you that's fact. Some OF thu
big stores here have made that discovery
! and have, moreover, by engaging thu
services of keen-eyed and observan
, shop-walkers, so arranged things tina
these ladies become known to the sales
r,en, who consequently decline to vast
, their time with them. In larg
Twenty-third street store the other da
I was told that whenever one of thes
, ladies comes into the establishment tn
shop-walker conducts her to the desire
counter, says to the salesman the wor
. cave which, of course, you. know
:. dear, means beware and leaves he1
!. satisfied that she will not remain yer
= long in the store When a salesman II
, ceives q cave customer he at once dt
:, clares that the article she desires to Sc
= is sold out, and won't be in stock agai
. for long time" t,.e,aE -4 .aa |!
i swell, what do these women mean b
), such aimless shopping?'
# "Why, my dear, it's a cheap ente
IS tainment. You remember Jonas Gnu
IS zlewit, who used to visit the outsides,
theaters and the insides of churches b
~ cause they cost nothing. Well, the san
d principle is involved in this aimless sho
q ping business. Of course it is an on
le rageous thing to do, but you know the
T. are lots of people who will do outrageo'
e, things, and think nothing of it. 1t usus
of ly takes a couple of months before
=. cave customer can be SATISFACTORY
Sc distinguished, this city being so lar!
IT, that she can divide her Improbable pa
r. ronage among many stores. These
10 dies generally carry sachels, and ha
We all the appearance Of the most invetera
to shoppers, They make minute inquiri
ne as to the goods they are inspecting, Al
lv always turn away with the words, sc
4 rowfully uttered: This is not exact
ap what / want. How extremely ammo
le. ing And" continued the strong-min
u ed lady angrily, as she paid the wait
at for her chocolate, and in her deep {
pc straction forgot to "tip" him, you re
of the poor wretches who are taken
1t. the police station because they are S;
ed to be disorderly in causing annoyant
IS in the public streets? | have seen
ne poor little banana-seller captured b.
policeman, and numerous others W
10. are endeavoring to make a livelihot
to because they have forgotten the !
,p tape which must be employed in
''ce act. But think of these women-th
on distractions to honest purchasers! II
he may flourish and they may do as Il
do like.
mp s'Well, how could any one prevent il
~, | ,sl,I tho orirl ;unatiantlv