Wichita eagle., 1889-09-29
ECONOMY IN SHOPPING.
PLAN THE CAMPAIGN THOROUGH
LY BEFORE LEAVING HOME.

Avoid tho Evanescent Styles-Hints Con-
corning the Selection of Goods and Pat
terns-How to Profit by the Special
Prices Offered on Bargain Days"
There are few fundamental principles to
be observed in shopping which every woman
ougnG to know, tor avery woman is shop
per. to greater Of less degree. She should
know. for instance, and know exactly, how
much money it is proper and prudent to spend
for a certain artici. To be sure, she Is under
no moral obligation TO spend the sum she has
set aside for that particular purpose If she
has the good fortune 20 ind it can be boughs
cheaper; but, the limit beng decided 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 they are dis
regarded in one purchase another Will have
to be dispensed with or its appropriation viii
be curtailed
1t is 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 wo-
man will fee temptation at the first warning.
She viii not even look at goods she cannot
afford to buy; for, even if she knows she viii
not purchase, she also knows that the con-
trast between the rich fabrics and those hum
BILE ones she has to take viii, unconsclouSly,
produce dissatisfaction
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
Another very important point for the eco
nomical shopper, be her purse plethora or
slender, is to know before she leaves home
exactly how much material she requires. To
enter store, see something that suits, and
then make rapid mental calculation, assisted
by an appeal TO the salesman, is wretched
practice, for there never yet was a salesman
who did not suggest more than an ample pat
tern 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 always
do with less, The liberal quantity scheduled
on the pattern allows for inexperence and
wastefulness on the part Of the amateur
dressmaker
The only really accurate and economical
way is to measure the pattern after purchas-
ing it, and upon the piano top or dining room
table arrange and rearrange the parts dove
failing and taking every possible advantage
OF peculiar shaped pieces until the minimum
quantity is reached, always, of course, bear
ing in mind that a larger quantity Of ma
terials with a 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
uyhi Ia IN, llya
dress the saving is of too great consequence
to need recommendation.
In selecting material for dress many
things should be taken into consideration. 1t
must be within the limit it should be be-
coming, 1t 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" OF shrink
or fade. Therefore, in buying a dress the
economical woman will select the real stand
ard materials nine times out Of ten--cash-
meres, serges, fannels or cloths and the like,
passing by the beautiful and less serviceable
novelties" where fashions come and go.
For women who pursue an outdoor avoca-
ton a 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
POINTS FOR BARGAIN DAYS"
Our merchants are, at certain times, in the
habit Of having VIVA: they call bargain
days." that is, days upon which they sell GER
tain lines of goods at reduced prices. These
days. in first class establishments, are god
sends to 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
Your choice among the thousands of rem
nants offered you will be matter of wise
Judgment, cheap though they are, and you
should not be more tempted to buy them
merely because they are cheap than you were
earlier in the season. If you cannot see how
and when and where you will make use of
them, they VIII be dear to you at any price.
But the point having been thoroughly es-
tablished that the close, slavish following Of
evanescent style is totally incompatible with
economy, the wise woman and prudent buyer
will call upon her good Judgment and refined
choice in the matter of these bargains. and
select those that are quiet and unconspicuOus
in color and pattern, assured that by so
doing she VIII not fail OF being lady like and
in good style.
There are standard styles that have never
been out Of fashion, but because each season
brings It's own trivial variation in the tone of
q color, the infinitesimal width of stripe or
size of a dot there is depreciation of salable
value in the experienced eyes of the dealer,
while to any one else the value is just as
great.
In fact, the most economical and conven- !
lent time for making up all common dresses
Is at season when more elaborate sewing is
not on hand Therefore in buying now for
next season it will be safe TO select any of the
simpler styles of goods, and thus be sure to
be in style" when the season comes around
again. Narrow stripes, fine checks, small
dots are all uncomfortable and, not coming
within range of arbitrary fashions, are never /
out of date, and no one need be ashamed of .
wearing them
The habit Of making a list every season Of .
the things absolutely needed, with tneir /
probable cost viii assist an economical shop
per very much In making her purchases and 1
dispose her TO snun snowy, 50 called bargains, /
unless she sees one that viii supply some item .
Oh her list or can wisely and proftably be I
substituted for something therein. New I
FORK Star.
VIII Writing Become a Lost Art?