Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-10-13
FOR WOMEN ONLY.
ABOUT Prices OF woMENs WEAR,
WHICH MEN MAY ALSO READ.

Are Lower-Ths Mckinley Law Has
Given Cheaper and Better Dressing-A
woman's Talk TO Women.
The COMPLAINT frequently heard among
women is that the Mckinley bill has
raised the price Of all dry goods. The
truth Of the matter is that French cor
sets. underwear, gloves, silks, laces and
In fact nearly all imported articles are
higher now than two years ago, but
prices ON American goods have been
lowered rather than raised.
The American woman can dress bet
ter and more cheaply today than ever
before and not go outside Of her own
country for thread or stitch Of her gar
ments, from raw fabric to tailor finish.
l have visited the principal dry goods
stores, glove stores, millinery stores,
etc, where womeD's clothing is sold,
with the idea of comparing present prices
with those Of two years ago, and in no
case have found an increase in prices.
In all knit goods, such as vests, drawers,
combination suits and hosiery there has
been considerable reduction. Hosiery is
sold from . 10 10 per cent. cheaper than
II was two years ago, and the reduction
Is particularly noticeable in the new
styles Of knit goods-the union under
garments and equestrian tights that have
come into vogue with other sensible
fashions that indicate an advance toward
artistic and hygienic dressing. Prices
have fallen 40 much ON tights that any
woman can afford to wear them now.
Such garments as sold for seven and
eight dollars three years ago can now
be purchased for three dollars, and n cor
responding reduction has been made in
all grades of goods. Within the past
two years the capacity of our factories
for manufacturing knit goods has in
creased by something over 60 per cent.
Tho protective tariff has certainly been
u good thing for this industry.
There is no appreciate difference l.
the cost Of the American made corset.
The imported article Is of course con-
sidcrably higher, but the great majority
of buyers patronize the American corset
manufacturer anyway.
Ready made undergarmeuts Of cotton
and muslin are selling about the same
Us formerly, the slight reduction in the
cost of tho material having only slight
effect on the price of deliberately
trimmed garments In the palmer goods,
however, made of coarser materials,
where n minimum amount Of labor is
expended, there is few cents difference.
In all grades Of cottons, calicoes and
prints, where the price has not remained
stationary, 1t has decreased from one
fourth TO two cents per yard. For in
stance, cotton flannel quoted two years
ago from 81 to 81 is now selling for 8 or
0. and canibrics formerly quoted at 1915
and 10 ARE selling for 1877 TO l2is. Cor
responding reduction is made on colored
cambrics and cheviots.
found in no store that WOODEN dress
goods had advanced in price. On tho
contrary, many Of the standards, as
serges and bro"dclOths, are cheaper. Two
years ago the regular storm serge cost
from $l.l5 to El.40 per yard. The price
today Of this SAME quality Of goods is
from fifty to eighty centss Broadcloths
are about 10 per cent. cheaper, and the
French broalcloth does not begin to
possess the wearing qualities of the
American. The finish of the latter is
better and does not trough mp" when
worn.
As far as silks and velvets are con.
cerned the price Of the domestic article
il about the same as it was two years
ago. 1t Is generally conceded that a
better quality Of velvet Is placed upon
the market now, whether imported OF
domestic.
In millinery goods, except Of course
imported models, there has been no in.
crense Ia price. Trimmings are perhaps
little cheaper.
Expert glove buyers concede that the
American factories give us "a better
grade of gloves than tho foreign.
The price Of leather footgear is the
same In the cheaper grades, but in the
more expensive there is reduction OF
about 10 per cent. Rubbers that were
selling for sixty cents can now be had
for forty-fve or fifty cents, and the fifty
cent goods of 1890 cost thirty-hve OF
forty cents today.
The Mckinley hill has mot affected
vho nr;ccs of readv made sniff an
cioaks within ths mat two YEAR,
however, manufacturers have found Il
suits of cbeviots md cheaner woolens
40 that today a woman can rot an inev
nonsiy. taiior made snit Formor,v ali,
would have heen forced 10 choose Ina
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