Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-30

He Saw for Himself What Woman Under
goes When shopping.
xtaN Mo- W,

He Saw for Himself What Woman Under
goes When shopping.
From the New York Times.
certain New York woman has q husband
who made himself conspicuous recently by q
remark. He was reading aloud in the newspa-
per the suggestion OF some masculine happy
thought that 1t would be q good thing if women
| would try to finish their shopping to occupy
the cars an hour earlier than the tired male
workers needed them, in which case the latter
could bury their noses in their newspapers with
out any conscience pricks from the sight Of
standing women about them. And 80 reading
this husband remarked emphatically:
That's a sensible notion. Women can just as
well manage their shopping hours to be through
and home by o'clock"
His wife differing with equal emphasis, an
argument followed. which ended, as many ar
guments do, in the husbands assertion that he
could do it, and he was no shopper either
WhereupOn his wife invited him to accompany
her on one days ordinary round, and in a rash
moment he accepted the invitation. day
that week was selected, and the husband duly
remained mp town after breakfast.
I'VE must start early" he said. ''Thatis one
OF the points made"
"As early as l can ever start" replied his
wife. and the head of the family watched an
hour slip away while his wife got the children
off to school, talked with the cook about the
days meals, received an early visitor on an
GRAND, saw the grocer's and butchers men,
| wrote note ordering coal, put on her jacket
and bonnet and finally left the house with him
| at five minutes before TO-
At the gate his wife was met and detained
hve minutes by poor woman who belonged in
her charity visiting district whose call necessi-
tated q return to the house for an order as
treasurer Of q relief committee. Their resi-
dence is lin West l27th street and it took ten
n T.. faffn Ava
more to catch a train, which they left at 18th
street and 9Th avenue at exactly 10:43 o'clock
"Now, take q transfer card" said the hus-
band, and get everything in one store. That's
the way you women waste time and strength
running about to compare prices and save
cent here and there"
His wife said nothing. 1t was her habit to
use transfer card.
The large shop first entered was crowded. It
was not easy to get to the counter desired, but
once there, q clerk was ready. Some white
pique was bought and then some colored pique
was asked for. Only two pieces were in stock;
neither would answer; this errand must be done
elsewhere. The purchase was recorded on the
transfer and the hosiery counter was sought.
stockings for Ned Flossie and little Frank"
said the wife, 1.-TWO grades school and best I"
The hosiery counter is always besieged and a
considerable wait ensued before she could be
served. Only one part Of the order could be
filled. Certain sizes we're out. rug for the
AAoAofy, WniCu ALI 30 SiaO you can uelp me
to select" was her next errand. They took the
elevator for the rug department and took seats
Tor inspection OF the stock. Rug after rug was
spread before them until, as the husband con-
fessed, "the choice became maddening." He
liked every one better than the preceding and
finally gave it up. Then his wife priced, exam
ined, considered the colorings Of the room for
which 1t was intended, and at last made q Judi
cious selection, not, however, until q good half
hour had been spent In the work.
One or two more purchases were made in
the shop as expeditiously as possible and
number were tried for, but were not obtain
able; there was q considerable wait at the
transfer desk for parcels and bills not
arrived there, and when they were once more
In the street the husband was astonished to
hnd 1t lacked only quarter to O. clock
10 get 10 lunching place, be served
| and discuss the meal consumed an
other hour, and then the work was continued
| An exchange was to be effected at one shop
which needed considerable circumlocution and
| az another the wife wanted to look up a parcel
bought the previous week which had failed to
reach her. In this case the dry goods red tape
became very trying, and the husband, like one
OF Ouldas heroes, swOre a little under his
mqstache." The colored Pique proved diff
sizes were not all found at one place, other
purchases needed trips to more than one shop.
and II was $50 before they left their last shop,
ping place and boarded Sd avenue elevated
| train at 9th street.
Both were tired out, the husband especially
80. And" said the wife, ''this is an easy day
OF shopping; have bought no bonnet or gown;
the choosing OF either implies more time and
effort Yet you see how wear, it is and how
memorable the hours Consumed. And am an
expert compared to many women I know
and today / have not looked at a
single thing outside Of my list, which
one has to do to shop judiciously
The truth il the weariest person on a car at
night is the woman who has been doing days
shopping. 1t 10 physical and mental labor of
the most fatiguing sort, yet it is as important a
branch OF the family affairs as any other part.
And if men will only let us alone and let us
choose our own time it is all we ask aud they
| may keep their seats forever"
The husband replied never q word.