Smyrna times., 1893-03-08
BARGAIN DAY.
BY LIZZIE YORK CASE.

clerk.
Eager faces crowd around the lon,
bargain tables; ladies almost battl,
with each other for the fabrics whicl
lie piled upon them.
What is the price of this ?"
How many yards are there in thi
piece? ?"
What was the former price ?"
Goods are pulled across the coun
ters, held up to the light, examined
with the fingers, tossed from one tc
another.
The clerk tries to keep the run O
things, to answer the dozen questions
and wait upon as many customers at
once
Fair brows are contracted, faces are
drawn aud wrinkled, every nerve is
strained to the utmost tension.
Female America is concentrating its
efforts morally and physically on the
marked down" goods.
You would think she was bound to
lie by no stronger tie than remnants.
Certainly Did we ever get whole
piece Of any thing? Life is all odds
and ends. from happiness. love and
friendship down, and most of them are
damaged at that, faded and soiled by
contact with the world, the flesh and
the. Well, get bargain in rem
nants, if you can.
i am all tired out, shopping" said
little woman, coming home late to
dinner.
Il thought you had finished your
shopping before Christmas" answered
the husband from behind his news.
paper.
"As if woman ever finished her
shopping" she replied, "besides this
was bargain day and they had remnant
sales in the stores"
well, to what extent have YOU
been cheated this time," he inquired.
Cheated Oh! as some one clever
ly says, 4 expect to cheat and be
cheated Why am l an exception to
human laws? Nevertheless, when
have paid more for an article than it is
worth, feel like denouncing the shop
keeper for a rogue"
And when you have paid less than
the thing is worth ?" the husband
asks.
"Oh! then l pat myself on the back
and experience blessed satisfaction" J."
what shall it profit woman if she
gain the whole world at bargain and
lose his own soul p he misqu otes with
mock solemnity, and adds, you have
a very accommodating conscience, my
dear"
II hope co." she replies. Conscience
is we'll enough, but like other good
things it can be carried too far. But
seriously, l am not responsible for this
system of trade. used to go into o |
store, ask for what wanted, and pay
the price,"
Were you not regarded as a great
curiosity ?"
II suppose So" she laughs in reply.
but [ have become demoralized, and
now | ask how much the goods have
been marked down, and do little sum
in mental arithmetic to see what 1
save by buying it. Even ifi is little
put of style orr
Cor don't need It," he interrupted.
"Or it don't fit anywhere or anything
and is too much for one and two little
or another"
"Certainly," she assented sarcasti-
'ally, II buy it anyhow because it is
cheap"
Il cannot blame you, as you arc d
esult and not a decree. While it is
necessary in trade to sell off odds and
'nds to make room for fresh stock, this
egular bargain-day business is demor-
llizing to the shopper, and in the end,
o the trade generally"
"Yes, il certainly develops the inher-
mt love of a bargain which Turks in
very human breast, and makes us |
lever want to pay regular prices
gain"
Mrs. Tovelles is veritable fact" |
auarEa tho buohond ttIt l., II
uestion Of degree" /
"Yes," answered tho wife, II remem. 9
er my Quaker mother was once be- 9
uiled into an auction in PHILADELPHIA. :
he actually bought a pair of boots for Z
ather. The first time he wore them :
utdoors, the weather being moist, I
hey melted away from his feet" /
"Well, said he laughingly, must in 1
estigate this bargain-day system and n
90 who is responsible for it," /
II believe 1t Is Paris" she said. G
When ! was there the Bon Marche .
sed to advertise occasions making n 4
pecial run on certain lines of goods. {
osiery, handkerchiefs, etc, upon cer-
ain days. All the world follows suit"
"And all the worlds wife fall grace. /
llly into line," he adds.
"Yes, thank you Commerce, be.
eVs, is femlnine."
Correct. Her waHts keep its wheels 7
ding round.p I
II certainly am proud to be of so b
luch consequence. 1t is a great thing q
D furnish so many wants, to keep n