St. Paul daily globe., 1892-04-10
The Picture Has Its Pathos
as Well as Its Amusing
Aspect.
Lovely Woman Who Beats
Tom Lowry Out Of Many
a Nickel.

Gilt lOu lUdy Uc oulO oHC piOIi5Oo ihtO
the midst of those big leaders which oe-
cupy whole page, and the marvellous
faculty she exhibits, Monday morning.
III remembering where and what was
advertised has made me believe that If
a dissecting needle could be applied to
her cerebrum, the systems of memory
training would obtain facts which would
reYolutiOniZe the science. l have no
patent on the theory, and you may make
your fortune by it.
This is the time of year when the bar
gain seeker is abroad in the stores, and
it ID comedy in itself to watch the
shopper as she winds her way down the
crowded aisle. Here comes one whose
/ face betrays struggle for position. She
is quite richly attired, but-the outer
skirt catches on some things, lifts and
displays Soiled skirt, with frayed en-
broidery and tattered edges. / know
where she is going, and watch her as
she stands by counter of corset covers
marked "only &C." and think of the SEN
tence ''whited sepulchers, but within
are dead mems bones." My Seriptural
| quotation may not be reverent, but 1T is
ut least relevant, and you must remem-
Der this is an age of utilitarlaniSm.
| There is a lesson i'll everything, and
| as L look up from preaching my
self a sermon and resolving that
L will sew that button on
my shoe that has been off two days my
eyes fall OH somewhat different shop
per. Her gray suit shows wear, but 1t
is as neat as the first day she put 1T on,
and her gloves, that Achilles heel OF
the careless woman, haven't even
broken stitch through which the arrow
of criticism can penetrate. She has
paused at table of snowy night robes,
and they are beauties, too, for l passed
them coming in, and my fingers sought
| my purse strings, when l sadly remem-
bered the wherewithal wasn't in it.
This is one time when the lads" didn't
lie, for the material really costs as
much as the gown; but 1t may spoil
your pleasure in the purchase to know
that it certaily was not the merchant.
and probably was the sewing woman,
VINO lost in your cherished bargain.
My shopper in gray remarks to her COM
panion that she wouldn't buy stOre-made
corset covers. They never do fit, made
for medium-SiZed women, and she is
human and glad she isn't just the build
of all other women. And for the matter
of that, there never was woman OF the
boughten- n-corSet-coyer-siZe. Then my
attention was called away by the fixed
look and quickened step of woman
who was passing the ribbon counter.
She had come out with the intention OF
avoiding that pitfall for pretty ribbons
that were the delight of her heart, but
in an unguarded moment here she was.
She paused irreSolutely near me, looked
back like Lots wife. and soon the
Sodom and Gomorrah of ribbon rem
nants had burned a deep hole in her
pocketbook.
My Lady Ducat never saw a bargain
counter, at least not since Lord Ducat
received his title, and bargain stores are
an abomiDation to her moneyed soul.
She pays The biggest price for every
thing, not because she doesn't know 1t
could be purchased for less. 1t is her
nature to Scrimp and save, and she does
it when Mrs. Grundy will not tell. She
is policy woman and trades with
Money Bros. because it gives her GER
tain standing.
The picture has also its pathos, sug-
gesting the ever present tragedy in
common lives. There is woman with
a little girl at the dress goods counter.
Her black shawl is faded and the dress
old-fashioned in its cut; the Grape on
the bonnet is rusty now, Tor it has been
years since the light and strength went
from that household. Her hands are
blue with the cold and rough from hard,
coarse work; the little girl is thinly
clad, but the childish Joy, which, let us
be thankful, even poverty cannot quell,
is Frightening the pinched, wan race,
fn1. ic cl In a
dress, something she can hardly re-
member before. The salesman isn't
as careful and attentive as when that
giddy girl with flaxen curls and a gen.
eral air of cheapneSS claimed his Sery-
ices, and the mother shrinkS from his
abrupt replies. But Mary's cup OF hap
pinesS is overflowing when quiet
brown plaid is chosen, and she gaZes
with wonder at the little box which car
rieS away the hard-earned savings, tell
ing her mother it must be the fairies
who spend their days that way. And so
| thank the good fairy who put it into
the minds of busy men TO have bargain
days and speed the time when the
thought shall sink in their heart and all
days be bargain days for 1.-The poor ye
have always with YOU"
AS sat there watching the throng
women, women, women, L began to
wonder where the men were, or don't
their superior majesties care for bar
gain days, and are men more honest in
money ana women i'll morals. l seldom
am on car but what | see some woman
who succeeds i'll cheating Mr.. Lowry
out of live centS,and | know one woman
to whom it is a positive torture to pay
her fare. If she succeeds she chuckleS
all the way down town, and probably
spends s. OH the strength of that nickel.
She doesn't think she's dishonest; Mr..
Lowry can afford to lose it; corporations
haven't any soul. and why should she
use her conscience in dealing with them.
Ii an inspector is on the car and the
conductor loses his position, why that's
his lookout, not hers.
You know there is big per cent off
given music teachers, and almost any
Young woman who makes day and night
noisome for her neighbors will repre-
sent herself as a teacher. Music is ex-
pensive, and we shouldn't blame her if
she practices economy. Tne dealers
know it, but what can they do? LII
questioned, she will tell you she is a
member of a church choir, and If not a
teacher she expects to be one some day.
Sc gives her youngest sister lessons
now, much to the detriment of that
budding genius in Euterpean art.
Women make more successful Snug |
glers than men; but protest 1T is not |
from an inherent ability to eyade the
customhouse officials. but because their |
volnminous draperieS offer more Sc
cure hiding place for the coveted treas
ures. In the DAYS OF the hoop skirt a |
whole family wardrobe could be con- |
ceaIed; but the skimped skirt of the
fin de steele style has placed the pad |
ding in the leg o. mutton sleeve. 1t is
d decidedly paying business, this, when |