The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-01-27
DISGUSTED WITH THEM,
A Stropg- Minded Lady Airs Her
Views on Shopping Women"


+, The strong-minded lady was slipping
chocolate in one of the little lunch re-
sorts in Sixth avenue. Her lip curled
with scorn as through the windows she
beheld the crowds of ladies shopping
with all their heart and soul and might,
as though they had been brought into
the world for no other purpose and fully
intended to carry out their mission. The
strong-minded lady was Disguised, The
young girl who sat at the table with her
tried her utmost to dissipate the gloomy
clouds which lowered SO persistently
over her intellectual companion. The
effort was futile. The strong-minded
lady declined to be anything but dis
gustad
Don't tell me that such a condition
of things is NORMAL she said, as a
group of ladies more energetic and
chattering with mere volubility than
any she had previously seen passed be-
fore the window. 81 tell you tits moth
ing of the kind. Those creatures there
are for the time being puppets, dolls, or
any thing you like. WomenI decline to
call them. Look at them rushing mad
ly into the stores as though their lives
depended upon the act. What do they
want? intellectually to entertain their
husbandsp Funds of information to
amuse their fathers? Attractive little
devices to keep their brothers at home?
No Six cents worth of ribbon to
match bonnet half yard of plush to
cover hat designed to excel one they
have previously seen, or some material
from which TO make dress for sum-
mer, though summer isn't nearly here.
Pshawn'
The strong minded lady viciously
drained her cup Of chocolate, ordered
another in stentoran tones, and turned
to her youthful companion with re-
newed vigor. "a shopping woman, "
she said, sis an abnormal condition of
womanhood induced by the absurdly
rapid civilization of the times. l have
for the past six years studied the phe-
nomenon of shopping, and l may say,
as the result of my studies, that the
chronic shopper is afflicted with spe-
cies of insanity. She can not help her.
self She is determined to shop, como
what may. 1t is as much a part of hel
siailv work as eating or drinking. Lei
me cite the case of an aunt of mine
which diagnosed for my own benefit
and which / trust you will allow me tt
quote in medical manner. Lizzie G..
my aunt, daughter of n very estimabl'
gentleman, married when a young girl
and mixed in the best society She de
spised frivolity, had written " series o
Bible stories for her children, was Away
ready to preach against the foolishnes
of girls, and was generally considered
model wife. | staid some time in he
house about the year 1878, and notice
that her husbands business seemed in
bad way, and that there was som
paucity of funds. Lizzie c., my aunt
consequently felt herself obliged to II
duce expenses and to buy everything {
the cheapest, A frantic desire for bal
gains came upon her. She would ris
at an carly hour of the morning and a
tend sales which she had seen adve
4ised, though there was absolutely Il
necessity that she should do so. 4 ha,
had such firing day, DEAR she said
me- i have been at the store since nil
o'clock this morning, It's extreme
fatiguing. But l am pleased to say
have bought some wonderfully ches
goods They are simply remarkabl
Look here She produced a parceE II
folded it. and placed upon the table VIII
to my horror recognized as black Graz
collars, cuffs and bows. ss-.
"'My DEAR said /, in amazemen
what did you make those wretch
purchases for? I'm not superstition
but don't like to see you buying era
when you don't need it.
You goose, said Lizzie, laughin
.thcy only cost trife, and / intend
keep them until l go into mournin
Perhaps | shall never have such chan
again. And you never know VIII
: you'll require them Now" said t
strong-minded lady, energetically, g,
you call that the act of a sane woma
My dear child, her intellect had be
touched by her husbands misfortune
though no one recognized that fact b
myself. her uOclOf always Sdiu tlitt' .
was the hcalthiest and most clear-mind
woman he had ever seen. She remin
NE of the fictitious case of Mrs. Smit
which isn't half as ridiculous as y
might think at first. Mrs. Smith we
to II sale and saw a very cheap dot
plate with the name, Mrs. Jones, up
it. She bought it. My dear glr
said a friend to whom she spoke of /
purchase, what did you buy that IL
less thing for?' It's not useless, S.
Mrs. Smith, Indignantly. My husba
might die and | might marry m
named Mr.. Jones And it's awful
cheap
''But don't compare those sensil
ladies shopping on Sixth avenue to
cranks you have just mentioned, So
the youthful listener, gravely.