Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-10
PARTS OF THE PAPER WOMEN READ.
straws That Seem to Show They Prefer the
"Ads" TO the News Columns.

PARTS OF THE PAPER WOMEN READ.
straws That Seem to Show They Prefer the
"ads" TO the News Columns.
Half n dozen women. of whom a re-
porter was one, were dining together tne
other evening.
"Have you seen Irving as Beckett the
hostess asked the reporter.
mo. I think I'll go on Saturday night
"He plays Louis XI. on Saturday
night" exclaimed the FIVE other women
In chorus.
How do you know?" asked the re-
porter with sudden inspiration.
MARY. bring the morning paper" said
the hostess to the maid behind her chair,
while the others regarded the reporter
with ill-concealed establishment.
Tell me-" asked the latter, do you
women in your hours of ease peruse the
columns of the daily papers? Now, hon
estly. DO you?"
"Of course we dot" in chorus.
Perhaps, then, you can tell me the
exact status of the Hawaiian question at
present, anu tHe iuttSl ueFtlORih'hN0 nv
Brazil, and how the Lehigh strike Is
progressing"
There was perceptlble gasp and each
woman looked anXiously at her neighbor
Then the newspaper-woman took pity.
What | do want to know" she went
on, rs whether you women read the adj
yertisements."
The five countenances Frightened. Then
az II they had suddenly decided that It
wasn't the proper thing to be up on
advertisements while they gave little heed
20 the news the five assumed n careless
air as they replied: "Oh, yes, some
times"
How about the advertisement OF a
bargain sale? Does that catch your eye?'
Five self-conscious smiles betokened as
sent.
And you seem pretty thoroughly in
formed about amusements. How often
do you read that column
well, I'll tell you how often ] read
IT," said the poyerty-stricken little church
mouse of the party. 81 read it as regu-
larly IA the day comes round. Not that
can afford to go to the theatre often.
don't get there once a month, and when
DO 20 | sit up in the 50-ccnt heaven.
But | am thoroughly posted on the peo-
pie and plays that have been in the city
for the last two years. and that Is next
door to going to see them.
"If you want TO know whether women
read the advertisements I'm the papers,
she continued, "let me assure you from
the fulness OF my knowledge that they
do Some of them read few things;
a few OF them read all; but all of them
read some things. Next TO me al my
boardng-house sits typical old maid.
Every single morning she gets mp from
breakfast. picks up the paper, and says
Now I'm going To look over the paper.
But | won't keep II from the rest of
you very long. I'm just going to read the
deaths Why under the sun she reads
the deaths is more than l can imagine,
for everybody that belonged TO her was
dead long ago. Another woman at the
same table. who has an excellent situa-
ton. which, I think. nothing could induce
her to change, always looks over the
Wants"
Il do too" said a pretty school teacher
across the table.
WHY" said the reporter
We'll" with a blush. II suppose it's |
because ! got my own place through |
that column. A friend Of mine saw the |
went to the school to |
make inquiries. and here | am, Then, too. |
the wants always interest me. And. for |
that matter. one good thing turned up |
for me through that medium; perhaps a |
better one may come the same way"
Well" put i'm the church mouse II |
own up 10 reading the personals In every |
paper ] come across I'm always hoping |
| may see a line: Information wanted Of |
a poor church mouse. who Is one OF |
the heirs TO the estate etc. There's |
another woman at our house who reads |
in the paper; at least. she |
reads all the advertisements. She knows |
what ships are 70 sail and what ones are |
iue; Just what plays are at the theatre, |
and how long they will stay; she knows |
which store has a cloak sale and which |
)ne linen sale. and where shoes are |
advertised the cheapest. Perhaps we don't
read advertisements at our house so
much as We would If she wasn't there,
for we can ask her what's on sale and |
where to get it. and she can always |
tell us"
"Pl tell you how II IS with me about
reading advertisements, said the host
.ss with judicial air. Il do read them
that is. | keep watch OF them. When !
see mention OF something l need. ! go |
10 the store. and If it is satisfactory ! |
buy it,"
but why do you need to read the adj
gertisements; you know they have every
hing or at least, most things In stock |
all the timer
But if they are advertised, that means /
hat they are to be sold at special rates
'or that day or week only. II may be /
l very triflIng reduction, but that makes
no difference Plenty of women have abb
no common sense about the mat
er. | remember a couple OF years ago
here was a drop in the price Of sugar,
and a big grocery firm advertised 70 sell /
sugar OF cents a pound less than its |
usual retail price. But, mind you, not
more than two pounds were 10 be sold
20 any one person. Wen, my dear, wo-
men came from Far and near: from
Jersey and Brooklyn. Naturally they |
Gould save only cents on their limited |
purchase of two pounds, and in coming or
going they spent five or six times that
amount, besides buying other things they
had not thought Of
But" said the engaged girl" who |
hadn't taken any part in the discussion, |
there is common sense In reading the ad-
Eertisements; you must admit that You |
ind out the novelties, and when the
regular old standby materials are adver-
Used at a bargain, you know IL. Oh. yes; |
own up to reading the bargain adver-
isements, and what's more, / believe |
every mothers daughter OF US does"
II know" said the church mouse,
there are dozens OF times when l wish |
had read the advertisements even mere
carefully. You may be sure 1 don't want
70 go TO the museums on pay-days. But /
.wo or three times | have been caught,
when a glance at the paper would have
old me better And I'm always turning
Ip at places after they are closed, and
going 10 hear something that has been
so that / have taken a vow /
% become as we'll posted as the animated /
calendar at our clearinghouse"
A Fatal Pat Hand.
(San Francisco Examiner)