Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-22
ECONOMY In SHOPPING.
PLAN THE CAMPAIGN BEFORE LEAv
ING HOME.
The Labor of Shopping Simplified by Or
dering Samples by Mail-yal-
able Points.

The Labor of Shopping Simplified by Or
dering Samples by Mail-val-
able Points.
There are few fundamental principles
to be observed in shopping which every
woman ought to know, for every woman is
shopper to greater or less degree. She
should know, for instance, and know ex-
actly how much money it is proper and
prudent to spend for a certain article
To be sure, she is under no moral obli-
CATION to spend the sum she has laid
aside for that particular purchase if she
has the good fortune to find it can be
bought cheaper but, the limit being de-
cided upon, she should have the good
sense and moral courage not to exceed it.
In all probability her figures have been
determined upon with reference to other
needs, and if they are disregarded in one
purchase, another will have to be dis
pensed with or its appropriation will be
eurtailed.
1t is a weakness of which no woman
should be guilty to allow herself to be
talked into the purchase of goods which
are beyond her means by the salesman
whose business and object it is to sell the
goods. A sensible woman will flee temp
tation at the first warning. She will not
even look at goods she cannot afford to
buy; for, even if she knows she will not
purchase, she also knows that the con-
trast between the rich fabrics and those
humble ones she has to take will, uncon-
sciously, produce dissatisfaction.
Another very important point for the
economical shopper, be her purse plethoric
or slender, is to know before she leaves
home exactly how much material she re-
quires. To enter store, see something
that suits, and then make a rapid mental
calculation, assisted by an appeal to the
salesman, is wretched practice, for there
never yet was salesman who did not sug-
gest more than an ample pattern. On the
paper patterns that are in such vogue and
are so useful to many amateurs, the
quantity set down is usually more than
enough, and an economical cutter can al
ways do with less. The liberal quantity
scheduled on the pattern allows for mex
perience and wastefulness on the part OF
the amateur dressmaker.
The only real acurate and economical
way is to measure the pattern after pur-
chasing it, and upon the piano top or din
ing room table arrange and rearrange the
parts, doyetailing and taking every posi-
BILE advantage of peculiar shaped pieces,
until the minimum quantity is reached, al
ways, of course, bearing in mind that a
larger quantity ofmaterials with positive
right and wrong side or plaided design,
will be required than of plain goods.
Many ladies who have no need of such
economy, from simply a financial point OF
view, encourage and practice it on princi-
pie, while in buying a really expensive
dress the saving is of too great consequence
to need recommendation.
For women who live out of town, the
present facilities of shopping by mail"
selecting from samples which all the lead
ing houses send upon request, has simpli-
fed the matter wonderfully. New York
and Philadelphia merchants are usually
most obliging, and in reply to postal
.1atsl, stating their correspondents need,
viii send not only generous supply OF
samples, but also give prices and the width
of goods. With these samples spread out
before one at home, a selection can be
made much more satisfactorily than at the
store. Ones judgment is cooler.
In selecting materials for a dress many
things should be taken into consideration.
1t must be "within the limit" it should
be becoming; it certainly should be in
style; it ought to be durable; it is often
desirable to look forward to the time when
turning" will be in order; and it is also
very often desirable that it should at some
future day dye well. 1t must not crinkle
when used, or wrinkle when damp; it
should not "crack," or shrink, or fade.
Therefore, in buying dress the econom-
ical woman will select the real standard
materials nine times out of ten-cashmeres,
serges, fiannels or cloths, and the like,
passing by the beautiful and less service
able novelties" where fashions come and
go.
For women who pursue an outdoor avo-
cation, very different style of toilet is
required than for the lady of leisure at
home, but neither need be or should be
anything but suitable and economical.
Our merchants are, at certain times,
nowadays in the habit of having what
they call bargain days." that is, days
upon which they sell certain lines OF
goods at reduced prices. These days, in
frst-class establishments, are godsends tc
the economical buyer, as are also the sales
of remnants and fragments of stock which
it is desirable to be rid of before filling the
counters with newer goods. Remnants OF
summer goods are to be found just at the
present time for quarter of the price
asked for them at the beginning of the
season, and with a little knack and good
taste these few yards of new goods put
upon an old dress will make it appear new
and elegant. A remnant of some pretty,
J dainty goods one would never have
dreamed of buying on account of its being
exasperatingly beyond ones limit, can be
had now with ease, and charming little
| dress for one of the children next summer
| is in order.
Your choice among the thousands O
remnants offered you will be matter o.
wise judgment. cheap though they are
and you should not be more tempted tc
buy them merely because they are chear
| than you were earlier in the season.
you cannot see how and when and where
/ yOu WILL LldAC Use vi bhShlj lllSJ Will pt
dear to you at any price. But the point
having been thoroughly established thai
the close, slavish following of evanescen
style is totally incompatible with economy
the wise woman and prudent buyer viii
call upon her good judgment and refined
choice in the matter of these bargains
and select those that are quie
and unconspicuous in color and pattern
assured that by so doing she will not fat
of being ladylike and in good style.
There are standard styles that have
never been out of fashion, but because eacf
season brings its own trivial variation il
the tone of a color, the infinitesimal Width
of stripe or size of dot, there is de
preciatiom of salable value in the ex-
perienced eyes of the dealer, while to ans
one else the value Is just as great. JUS
now, immense bargains areshown in prints
cambrics, ginghams and cottons, and nj
better opportunity will offer to lay in
stock for next season, while long even
ing, after the heavy work of winter dress
making is over, is capital time for max
| ing the children summer everyday dresses