Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1891-02-07
Lady Shoppers and Bargain Day.

1t is on bargain day that the proverbial ladv
shopper is said to find her element. She will hold
position at a counter for nearly half an hour on
a "rush' Saturday, haggling over the price Of
towels and napkins, and then with II don't be-
lieve they'll suit" walk out. These things are so
naively rude and the primal elements of human
nature come to the surface SO frankly, that it is
easy to believe in evolution.
What is it that developes this spirit in woman?
The Greeks said she was doll invested with all
OF the worst qualities of their gods and goddesses.
The Madagascarenes tell that after the fall of man
Eve arrived. That when he had eaten of the for
hidden fruit he became afflicted with boil, out of
which, when it burst, came q beautiful girl. A
moments reflection will show that so it was from
the beginning; always woman was beautiful ar
tfcial toy or source of afflicon and pain and,
if in shopping she finds her element, too much
should not be expected of creature who has un-
dergone centuries Of servltude. For thousands of
years the Johns have said to the Marys, cit is the
most astounding thing in the world, the amount Of
food and clothing that is consumed by this family.
For the life of me can't tell where all the money
goes to-"
Mary sighs and says, "Never mind, John, I'll
wait; perhaps after Christmas things will be
cheaper"
One of these Marys was telling me of recent
experience of hers.
''You know she said, II detest what is gem
orally understood as shopping-to see the styles,
to kill time, etc. But one day, recently, con-
Guided l must have new shoulder cape. Irushed
into downtown store. The affable clerk APP
preached me with What can | show you to-day?'
Il hardly know, let me see some remnants of vel
vets, please. Before my mental vision there was
pendant beautiful shoulder cape of an indescrib-
able hue and texture. knew just what wanted
and yet couldn't explain to him. So | ambigu-
ously said show me the rcmne1t- aauntar.. Polite
ly he conducted me to it. There stood for ff-
teen minutes tossing velvets and silks that were
too long or too short, all the time making men,
tai calculation Of what could afford to buy.
Then, clean cut as with blade of steel, these
words cleft the air. Time is money They struck
me; to-day feel their sting but now, as then, |
realize the position we relatively occupied. All
day long traffic had sped the hours; at the eev-
enth came in, apparently with no intention of
buving. 1t were better that l, like the Wandering
Jew, should move on. l did, serenely and
pleasantly; | felt that l had been made the target
for a comedy of errors, than which none were
greater than the error of having been risunder-
stood"
Bargain day was made for the woman and not
woman for bargain day. Let her critics take warn
inc. when science will have unraveled the knotty
labor problem and settled also some few other
agonizing matters, it may be my lady shopper will
be evolved into something characteristic OF that
PROCESSION. To-day she is the most potent factor
in the commercial trade. ADAM DEAN
Address to the Elections Committee of the
Kentucky Constitutional Convention,
December II, 1890.
The day has arrived when custom IS being con,
stantlv arraigned before the bar OF justice and
common sense. Custom no longer awes the null
titude. All nations, ranks and classes in turn are
questioning and repudiatng his authority. Gus