The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-02

| flannel and muslin. Their purchases
never foot UP TO great bills. and they inva-
riably pay cash. They trade only at GER
us,,alIv a tightly closed one. No one sus-
poets Miss Alta TO be the richest girl In
America, nor her sister TO be, In addi-
ton to her great wealth. one OF the finest
musicians In the world among amateurs.
Mrs. John Jacob Aston Is never what
can be called an 'unassuming" woman.
She is too pretty for that. She dresses
quietly, but so well that people notice her
and, as she runs an account at the lead
ing dry goods stores, the clerks know her,
and quietly pass along the word that mere
is the richest young matron In the woriu.
Mrs. Astor buys her own childs dresses
and the little things OF the nursery. one
also purchases everything OF value in
the house including her own table nheh
and the glass and dishes. which, somehow
always need replenishing In milIoii ~
aires house. Sne fits from counter "
counter, invariably attracting attenefoln y,
but herself apparently UNCONSCIOUS -, i ts
Her maid also buys for her wheh s shon ~,
too busy 10 take the time ior '"''
Mrs. Willie X. Vanderbilt used to be me
terror Of the shopkeepers because sue Iau
penchant for having me ers Wno'e . ss.d
to herself "ClOse the doofs' oeha
thoen ne6nle outi" she would say imperi-
ously. Her dislike 10 mingling with every
body was due 10 the fact that her race
had become well known, ana croWos OF
see what she would buy. After awhile
she refused 10 go shopping at ALL and sent
either a friend a secretary, or a mald 10
execute her commissions
II is not supposed that Miss Helen
Could that most independent OF mil
Uonairesses. ever goes shopping herseiI'
vet If the truth were known she can
he seen at least one day in the week In
the large shops buying things for the
moor. The little cripples Of Woody Crest
are dressed in the clothing selected by
herself. and the girls Of her advanced
training school for the teaching Of norl-
culture wear the dresses bought by her.
Miss Gould buys for her own wear the
most expensive OF clothing. but she
chooses dark colors, and Is particular only
about the fit She shops either IN q
hired cab or a closed carriage OF her
own. Nobody knows II Is she, as the
pictures labelled Miss Helen Gould do
not resemble her in the least. she mas
not been photographed for fourteen years
since she was child.
Mrs. William Astors dressmaker does
the shopping for that wealthy lady. She
knows what color-now always black-her
patron desires, and she gets the best
there is. Mrs. Aston never buys jewels
now, as she has more than enough 10
leave beirlooms to all her children and
their children besides. Mr.. Astor always
showered them upon his wife. Mrs.
Astor's gowns are for the most part
bought abroad. But now she gets them
in this country during midseason, as
Worth refuses 10 make dresses more
than for three months ahead. Fashions
change so now that this falls styles will
be positively Gothic by winter he says
10 those who want him TO make them
for n year or TO last until spring.
Mrs. Ward McAiister rarely goes shop
ping. Her daughter Louise does the
about whom so little is known, is some
thing of an invalid with fancy for re-
winters when she does not go out at
all. She dresses fairly well in simple
house gowns. but wears neither many
jewels nor elaborate creations of dress
at any time. When she goes out, II Is
always in the open carriage so often seen
standing in front Of Mr.. McAllister's
door.
No one is more sensitive about being
Rensselaer, Cruger. She is not snobbish
In the matter. but does not like TO be
observed by strangers, although most
hospitable in her own home and anxious
time. 1t is said that she fears the para
grapher, and on that account goes shop
ping incognito, paying cash and sending
the parcels out to her carriage by the
maid who accompanies her. Her dresses
are nearly all made In America. They
are bought from specially made designs
OF cloth and silk. and the house dresses
are executed on specially ps9ned lines
When Mrs. Grover Cleveland goes shop
ping she selects rainy day. Then she
goes alone, driving to the shop in a
closed carriage and ordering her pur-
chases sent home. The last time she
went shopping was just before she went
to Gray Gables for the summer. Her
principal purchases were little summer
dresses for the children and shade hats
for herself. To the clerk who waited
upon her she made one or two very
pointed remarks about allowing her shop
ping to become public property. The
clerk felt hurt and told the proprietor.
who assured Mrs. Cleveland that none
should know what she bought. But the
reporter was there.
When shopkeepers know they are com
ing small private rooms are reserved for
the wives of millionaires, who buy in an
hour as much as ordinary folk buy in a
year; and several clerks are detailed to
wait upon the ladies whose time is so
precious to society. Very often appoint
ments are made by maids, and the lady
goes when her secretary tells her there
is time appointed. That is the way
several OF New York's time-pressed mil
honaire women manage. However II
may be arranged, the shOpkeepers are
glad to see them. and sincerely thankful
that so desirable patrons do not carry
all their spending money across the
water.