St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-25
Ingenious Method By Which Society WO-
men of Small Incomes Always
Appear Well Dressed.
Some of the Novel Inventions in Easter
Bonnets Which Will be Worn
at Church To-day.
Girls Who Find Sparring Good Means
OF Acquiring Pink Cheeks and
Plump Figures.
Leaf From n Young Married Wo-
mans Diary Making Antique
observation-disclosures
NsOMAN,s INGENUITY.
How Fashionable Women with
Slender Incomes Manage.


A bright-looking young woman, whose
garments were of elegant quality and fash
ionable cut, was observed talking earnestly
TO a saleswoman in one of the large stores
on Sixth avenue, New York. the other day.
She was observed with especial interest by
| two persOns-One the superintendent of the
store and the other newspaper man. The
saleswoman appeared TO be showing the
bright-loOking young woman some laees;
| but as the box of delicate fabrics re-
manned almost entirely nnnOtieed during
the ten minutes conversation that ensued.
il was clearly evident that the two women
were not talking about laceS.
Miss -" said the superintendent. adj
dressing the saleSwOman after the elegantly
attired visitor had departed. Il cannot
permit you TO transact your private bust
ness over the counters of this store"
1.-The lady asked to look at some laces,"
replied the saleswoman pertly.
Il understand all about IT, Don't let il
occur again." responded the superintendent
i'm a tone to sharp that caused the
rebuked subordinate to drop her eyes and
flush deeply. She silently replaced the
box of laces on shelf and walked to the
other end of the counter. THAT girl is
more intent on building up little trade of
her own than in serving the interests of her
employer" explained the superintendent TO
the newspaper man. IF did not watch
them closely some of our clerks would de-
vote half OF their entire time during bust
ness hours to their own personal tTansac-
tions."
Then that bright-looking young lady
was not a customer" yentured the clerk.
she was a customer of that female
clerk, but not of the store" said the super
intendent. Perhaps you don't know that
large portion of the women who are en-
ployed i'm the principal retail stores in New
York are either brokers or spectators.
Receiving a mute acknowledgment of ig
nOrance OH this point, the speaker contin-
ued: well. such is the fact. The bright
looking person who just walked out was
trying to sell the elegant winter wrap that
she wore to the saleswoman. i imagine.
however, that they were unable to agree on
terms. Each woman was, of course. bent
upon driving as good bargain as possible"
| do you mean to say that that richly
atttired lady was in need of money!"
Not al all. That isn't the point. You
must understand that there are hundreds
| perhaps thouSands-of women who hold
respectable positions in New York society
by virtue of their ingenuity in keeping up
the appearance of being fashionable. Their
| ingenuity makes up for their lack OF ready
cash. lake Tor example the wife of man
whose only income is a salary of So, 900 a
year. The wife has managed to obtain a
fooihold in what Is commonly termed good
society," and she finds that her husbands
slender means will hot permit her to in
dulge in the eXtravagances practiced by her
weather. acquaintance in the matter Of
=
i'm society, however. and 10 do that she must
not appear i'm shabby attire, nor must she
fail TO keep pace with the change of fashion.
How can she manage il? Many women
solve this problem by running into debt,
| but not so with the class of women Of
whom 1 speak. The ingenious woman
hunts up the female brokers and Specula-
| tors in the large dry goods stores and in
vokes their aid. Suppose il is late in the
fall, and the ingenious woman wants a
handsome winter wrap. She has been
prudent during the summer, and saved
money enough TO buy handsome garment
Consequently she goes to store, selects
| just what she wants, and pays cash for IT,
| When her husband sees her purchase he
eXclaims: why, Eleanor. isn't this rather
eXtrayagant for us?' She calmly
says: Wait and see.' The winter passes
with its pleasant social events, and the ex-
pensive wrap does good service. At Easter
Mrs. Eleanor goes to church with a stylish
and captivating new suit Where did you
get money enough TO buy such a nice spring
suit?' asks her husband. i sold my winter
wrap the wife replied, cheerily. In the
| following fall and winter Mrs. Eleanor
displays new and fashionable dolman,
and in reply TO her husbands
queries she explains that she was
enabled TO buy the garment by adding
a little TO what she received for her
captivating spring suit. Where in the
mischief do you sell your clothes?' asks
the husband. To speculative saleswOmen
in dry goods houses, says the wife. There
you have the whole proceeding in a nut
shell. The ingenious woman manages to
keep pace with the fashionable changes of
the seasons in the matter of dress at abou {
One-third of the expense incurred by her
weather. neighbor. To be sure, her stock
of wearing apparel is not large, but it is al
ways stylish and attractive"