The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-29
NEW YORK FASHION.
MATE LEROY'S TIMELY POINTERS
ON EARLY SPRING COSTUMES.
Her Descriptions of Gowns Are Preceded
by a Talk Regarding the Necessity and
Advisability of Shopping Trips.

Ever since women were eHldnClpdbeu rum
the spinning wheel and the LOOM where all
the dry goods worn by the family were
spun and woven, they have been the OBJ
1ects OF smart paragraphs regarding their
shopping habits and subjects OF ridicule
everywhere. The humorous papers have
shown pictures Of sad faced and long suf-
fering statesmen and women, and there was
time when no lady would deign to carry
home paper Of pins or a spool of thread.
In the first place, upon the woman de
wolves the duty Of purchasing raiment for
all of the family except the mems outdoor
garments. She must provide towels and
table linen, curtains and bedding, 1annels
and shirts, bath robes, collars, cuffs and
hosiery, and in fact she must purchase al
most every garment or article of household
need that comes into The house. and the
vista of necessities stretches ont far be-
yond the limits Of two columns IN news
paper, let alone the little luxuries.
II woman is conscientious in the dis
pensing of the money her husband provides
her with, she cannot go into any store no
matter how large or comprehensive it Is,
and give carte blanche order without
looking not only at the items, but exanlin-
ing everything TO sec IL 1t comes up 70 the
standard, and the conscientious woman
makes il her business to know the stand
ard How could she know it II she did not
20 TO the different stores and by careful
comparison and scrutiny learn it and the
pricesi
1t is Just the wise and prudent women
who are acting on the right principle who
20 into the stores and shops" diligently,
making the clerks more trouble, it is true,
but getting the best value Of their money
taking no more than they want, knowing
what they want to fraction, and taking
that and not allowing themselves 20 DO
cajoled into taking any other color, quality
or material, and saving in several ways by
so doing.
Women are accused, and very unjustly,
Of loving to go shopping too well. as II
shopping was amusement. Personally
consider It the hardest labor of my life, and
know hundreds who feel the same way,
but the mother OF a family or wife who
keeps house finds that it takes many hard
and tiresome days TO keep properly supplied
on q certain sum Of money.
Matching goods or ribbons Is so very
much more difficult and requires so much
moro labor and going from store to store
that II IL were not that it Is done In the i'll
terest OF true economy should say IL was
useless.
doubt II one Of the husbands Of these
ladies would spend halfsa day going to
perhaps fifty places to match few yards
OF office carpet, or in fact anything, for the
sake of saving few dollars. Perhaps their
time being more valuable. IL would not pay
them, but rs the majority Of women have
nothing more to do than TO look after the
ways Of their householdsit does pay them
TO make these little saving plans which,
though the men affect to laugh at, they
secretly commend. ''She looketh we'll %
the ways Of her household" Is high praise
for a woman, and no woman can do that
who does not attend to her own shopping
and at the risk Of the profound hatred OF
the clerks and the Ill concealed impudence
of the salesladies insists upon having what
she knows she wants.
The conscientious woman, and there are
tens Of thousands OF them In even this city.
although her husband Is millionaire, feels
It a duty to save where she can while she
cannot earn.
IL should be called upon TO give my idea
OF woman's millennium, should say i con-
sisted in being the mistress Of home
where the husband provided the money to
keep the house and the woman had moth
ing else to do than to look well to the
ways OF her household"
OF course this has broader meaning
than being simple housekesper. IL means
that she is mistress Of the house, mother
In truth and deed to her children and
loving wife who seeks no pleasure that is
not In some way connected with home.
That is the happiest, noblest and grandest
life for q woman. but unfortunately many
are not able to give themselves up to the
hsxqty and charm Of such . litA and many