The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-23
woAEN T FRIVOLOUS.
Some Points About heir Infiuenc
In the Affairs of the World.

@OnS Eolnts ABOUT ! nelr lnuuence
IN the Affairs of the W GRID.
BROOKLYN, March 21-"The shopping
women did it. This remark was made by
ex-Speaker Reed in his recent speech, deal
ing with the overthrow of the Republican
party in the November elections.
Accustomed, as am, to estimate women
at their full value, and to give them credit
for all the influence they exert, and all the
work they do, l was, nevertheless, quite
surprised when l considered that nearly all
the shopping Of the world was performed
by women. Women, as a rule, do the
marketing, and always purchase all the dry
goods used in the family, with the
occasional exception of necktie
and a box Of collars These shop
pers are not by any means the frivolous
creatures that this word is generally sup
posed TO represent. In the majority of in
stances they have Just so much money, and
this must be made to cover the expense of
sheets aud pillow cases, napkins, towels,
aud all sorts of useful articles, as we'll as
flowers and feathers, silks and cashmeres
for personal use and adornment. Very
few Of these women are political econo-
mists, but they had natural sense enough to
know that higher taxes would not bring
about higher wages. Indeed, at all the
women's clubs and business meetings, even
OF working women, class not cred
tied with cultivated intelligence,
this thought has been thousand
times more logically dealt with and elah-
GRATED than by any of the congressman who
have spent days in its discussion. Prices
went up exactly as the shopping women"
predicted. and | am glad to know that
Speaker Reed realizes the political power
which women exert, though they are only
strangers and aliens, and classed in the
constitution with idiots and criminals. It
didn't take the women long to got at the
true inwardness of the Mckinley bill, and
while they cared absolutely nothing for
party, they did care for their husbands,
their fathers, their brothers, their sisters
who are workers, and for themselves.
Hence the result.
"An Augusta Grandmother" wishes TO
know il can give reason for the total ig-
noring of politics in the Woman's Congress
lately held at Washington. think "Grand-
mother" has made a slight mistake AT
this gathering politics was treated in its
entirety, its breadth, depth and thickness,
and some of the minor Issues usually incl
dent to such occasions were tactfully
omitted. The question of the ballot for
women was practically ignored. This was
wise, but never before in the history of the
world was woman's influence in the home
and the nation SO universally conceded as
now. This is enough for the present. The
outlook Is clear and encouraging.
Another southern lady asks If those who
have the matter in charge think it will be
possible to devise costume that will be
popular among business women.
My impression is that a uniform dress
will meet with great opposition. Women
will naturally refuse to wear garb which
will mark them as business women. Then
| there is no need of such a costume. The
hNyrr avid dor nva1
equeStrienne tights-make fine combna-
ton. One very light petticoat is more than
| sufticient-many women do not wear even
one on the street. This rig, uncomplicated
by tight corsets or girting bands, and
covered by suitable, prettily made, light
weight swing-clear business gown, cannot
be improy ed upon. 1t is to be hoped that
| the radical wing Of the reform in the mat
| ter of woman's dress will not devise an ugly
costume, and find O few ugly women to
wear it, because it will only serve to make
| the sex ridiculous, and there has been quite
enough Of this in the past.
| The suit of O complexion beautifler for
| 5000 against the wife of the millionaire, C.
P. Huntington, is making a great stir.
Curiosity" asks me to tell how many treat
| ments Mrs. Huntington received for this
sum.
| The beautifier's bill is not itemized, am
| informed, but it was trying job to reduce
| the adipose tissue which interfered with the
comfortable clasping of the lady's diamond
necklace, and q new crop Of wrinkles about
| the eyes were especially obstreporous. The
| beautifier probably fixes her prices accord
| ing to the ability of her customers to pay, a
rule of trade which believe is also adopted
| by dentists.
By still another lady am asked TO tell
| what this facial treatment is, and what
| woman can do who are not SITUATED SO that
they can avail themselves Of it.
1t is massage, pure aud simple. No in
struments are used by true professionals,
and this process can be easily learned and
| practiced at home without money and with
out price. 1t is not daubing on of paint
| and powder. If it we're should be the last
one on his earth to say anything in favor
of it. II those who wish to learn this treat
ment will enclose a 2-cent stamp to the
Metropolitan Guide and Shopper, Miss Nj.
G. Anderson, sos Lexington avenue. Br )ok-
Ign, she will tell them just how the work is
done. This is work Of entire benevolence
on her part. For the sake Of her customers
all over the country this wide-awake
woman keeps herself posted in all such
matters, and when l asked her to extend
her knowledge to my readers she was de-
lighted u be of service.
it has been asked if this information so
freely given is not direct aud unmistaka-
Bile interference with the work of the pro-
fessional beautifier. The question seems to
me ridiculous. Why women at a distance
and women who cannot afford it should DO
kept in ignorance of so simple a method for
keeping the skin soft and the face attract
i've is a problem which I cannot figure out.
Women do not believe in trusts or nonop-
olies, and the right to beauty IL inalienable.
ELEANOR KIRK.