Arizona weekly citizen., 1888-12-08
DISCARDED EMERY
WHAT BECOMES OF THE CAST OFF
 CLOTHING OF RICH LADIES.

Discoveries Made by an InquisitiSe Re
 porter-Garmsnts Found fin Second Hand
 Clothing Stores of the Better class-The
 Poor Relations Not Forgotten
 "What do the fashionable and wealthy women of New York do with their dis carded garmentsy" This question is sug gested by one of our thoughtful readers. He says: "To be in the swim these ladies must have cords and cords of clothes to cast of, entirely too many for supply of their poor relations Do they sell themi Do they invite the old clo' men to their hOusesy They cannot give 'em to their servants. What do they do with 'emT'
 Looking this subject up. reporter learned that the ladies of New York have various ways of disposing of their dis carded garments, and instead of being at all embarrassed to do so, they could dis pose of many more. It is certain that none of them is thrown into the street. That many of them arc sold is obvious from the fact that in second hand cloth ing stores of the better class there are al- ways to be found rich garments that have been but little worn. There is quite as much difference between second hand stores as there is between stores where only new goods are sold. There are plenty of second hand stores where only goods of first quality are sold; where very nice silks. satins, lace. upholstery and bric-a- brac can always be found, and where the prices arc kept quite above the reach of ordinary people, although far below first hand prices for such goods. lt need not be inferred that all these goods are bought directly from first owners In many cases they arc bought of second owners, who have received them Gs gifts from the first owners, who discard everything the mo- ment that it goes out of fashion.
 DISLIKE THE BOTHER
 Yet there are rich ladies who sell every thing of this kind, not so much for the money as for the convenience of it. They do not like the bother of doling out gifts. Of course, they do not call in the ordinary old clO' man. They would not for the world exchange word with the conten- tiOus iunkmen who are SO anxious to ex- change crOckery for old garments. They deal with quiet. nice people, who make a business of going to dwelling houses by appointment tO sppraise and purchase such goods. The advertisements of these upper class" dealers may always be found in the newspapers. The fact that the business is profitable Is apparent from the fact fthat such advertisements do con stantly appear. and such garments may always be found in second hand stores.
 One very capaciOus outlet for such goods Is found in the aid societies of the various churches and the rapacious demands of ladies fairs. Much rich clothing gets cut up to make crazy quilts. pin cushions and the million knickknRcks that go to fill a ladies fair. The underclothinC Is easily seized by the benevolent ladies for distri button among the poor, tO whom rich outer garments would be an inappropriate gift.
 Some rich ladies do not scruple to use up all their old silk or satin dresses Es lining for new garments. These silk and satin Things are not only elegant and styl ish. but they are very comfortable and convenient. They are lighter than ordi nary Innings.
 But the poor relations are not forgotten There are many of them in New York Most of the rich families have come up from poverty by long course of hard work and active business. Very few have been able to bring up all their relations with them. The poor relations have daughters who must be made presentablC when they visit the rich houses, and they are not only not ashamed to accept gifts of clothing, but are very glad to get it There are also many poor women in New York who havo once been rich. whose hus bands or fathers have failed in business or died with embarrassed estates, and who rely upon old associates among the rich for suitable clothing to keep up respect able appearance.
 AcTEEss' COSTUMES.
 AS to the leading actresses who have large and expensive wardrobes, they d1 not need to give away or sell much cloth ing. The exigencies of their profession require large quantities of material to pro vide costumes for various parts, and their good dresses are made over and over again and reappear in Various forms. are interchanged, mixed and mingled SO that the original shape is Unrecognizable There is no end 10 the uses that expert costumers can make of good material. which. whether the property of the rich or the professional. need never go a-beg ging. Much of the discarded clothing of rich ladies does find it's way tO tho stage costumer, and reappears in the court trains, the ball room robes. and other wonders of the toilet that grace tho fair forms of walking ladies, and astound the minimizing female in the audience at the lavish expenditure which the manager has made.
 Much of the best material of tho dis csrded dresses of rich ladies finds its way to the dye house. and there assumes some more marketable or fashionable color, or gets done in black, which is equally the taste of the grave and gay. the lively and severe. And thus in many ways the old dresses of rich ladies are conserved and contribute their mite 10 illustrate that triumph of civilization that is approaching when nothing goes to waste The refuse of the gas house Is made into the most gorgeous aniline dyes. and applied to faded rich materials. 10 again rsapPear in those delightful forms that ever fascinate the gaze of man and absorb SD much of tho time and thoughts of women. Thus ever the old is transformed into the new in the slembic of time and through the genius and invention of nan and woman. New York Sun.