The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-15
Bah Has Something to Say Of the
Powers Of Discrimination.
THE QUEER WAYS OF The SHOPPER
Where big" stores Attract ieinihihe
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.; 20 the Wants OF
individuals a. An Act of Charity.
The Woman Who Laces'
New york, Nov. Il.

.'7 -. -, suaclal department. ana
helicves that She is an expert IN the ar
| Of shouuint when she gets cake OF sun
| for "A penny less than she Wouiu 'oS a.
| tho dr,tgoi4t's or a yard Of ribbon lot wv
| ,,onnfcs 10 imam the millincr wouid
| charge. She forgets That the soap -"
| done up On pretty bit OF p"p,'' 90 - 80
| i'm taking tine cheap ribbon tn.le
shown 20 her the latest ho'e -.
silky strings. Tho "oii.'" - g. ,bosa
! how to snop. who joys in H. goes 10 1ilo97
nlacos fhaf are specially dedicated 10 "o-
| mon OF GOOD taste. They are not inc
sbops whose departmcnts cover bloch.
Thev do not pretend 10 sell Things at
less than their value. But they oiiei ~
a dainty something that as yet mas no
duplicates. and they cater 10 you aS an
| individual, and not as trlpe.
These arc The stores where the hnest
OF French underwear Is shown WneIo
the newest way Of twisting Dit OF i"1o
into n breakfast cap - cNhloiteu' "loi'
| the most coquettisn OF roscttes FOR beo-
room simmer is placed before you; and
whore soap that is JOY 10 your skin, and
| perfume that is like a breath from the
flowers Of paradise. arc put before You
20 test. These are the stores that cater
to the women who appreciate themselves
! They Slsplay something pretty Tor every
| hour IN the day of a woman lie. Ihere
! is the luxurious looking jacket, with pale
| satin slippers 10 match. That suggests
being propped up against a cool pillow
that one may drink cup OF strong col
fee: then there is the bathgown with,
| beside it, the soap that leaves a delicate
odor on your skin; the perfumed water
! that makes CrotOE q possible ~ IN which
to battle. and an embroidered damask
! towel that announces IS cagcrncss 10 alb
| sOrb the drops az water that persist ia
cinging like dew TO the body OF a flower.
| From a closed wardrobe. one that opens
| it's doors only 10 the tinkle of gold. comes
the smart-looking cloth gown with It's big
| hat fur collar and lace-trimmed mum, Ia
which MadomOiseile goes out for q walk.
From enormous boxes appears the visit
ing costume: from silver paper is brought
out the dinner gown from cedan
chest. the ermine-lined opera cloak and,
last Of an. from a silken perfumcd case.
| is the null robe de mutt I'm which, very
near TO the morning hours, Mademoiseile
gowns herself for dreams and for sleep.
Where are these shops? You have 20
learn. Somebody whispers the address
OF one TO me; I whisper il 70 my dearest
friend. and so the story Of the treasure
house goes around The proprietor. being
| woman. is usually very clever. To-day,
the steamer is TO bring her box of won
| derful veils then somebody. who Is
blonde. gets a note telling Of the beauties
| of these fine lace coquetries. and how she
is offered first choice of one that Will in
tensifv her lovcilness. and somebody else
who is a brunette. gets a note suggesting
that she drop in and look at these web
like beauties. simply 70 see If she cares
for one: and somebody else, who IS
neither blonde nor brunette is hattered
by a request that she come and look at
the prettes and give her opinion Of them.
And each note is written on the daintiest
Of paper. decorated with a cipher and
suggestive Of richness and prettiness and
womanliness. but never Of trade.
These are the shops where the need Of
the individual is catered to-
You who have not a great deal Of
money TO spend. drop in. and are inform
ed by the clever proprietor that the last
Importation is box of very pretty
stays: and then she shows you a pair Of
palc-blue brocade ones. having the bones
underlaid with blue plush, and the top
trimmed with rose point. The price,
Thrty-fve dollars But the business WOO
man. who reads you and your purse with
great quickness. says TO you:
Ny dear Mrs. knickerbocker, there
isn't the slightest necessity of your pay
II
same style is developed in figured coutille
or bluste. trimmed with tOrolOn lace.
is quite as well boned. quite as we'll cut.
and just as refined. OF course. / have 20
cater TO the foolishly cxtravagaut people
as well as 10 those of good sense like
yourself. but I am go\g 20 advise you
not 20 consider these. and 20 take the
other ones. which YOU may have for $40.
And Mrs. Knickcrbocker IS delighted at
the tribute paid 10 her position, and 10
her good sense. Madame keeps custo-
mer. and eventually sells the brocade
stays TO Mrs. Nouycau Richie, TO whom
she remarks
81 imported these. my dear Mrs. Nou-
veau Richie. with a thought OF you. I
absolutely refused 20 let Mrs knicker-
booker have them. because with such an
exquisite pair OF stays there must De
everything I'm harmony
Blame ner? Not q bit. She IS simply
being all things 10 all women, and by
catering to each. according 10 the purse
Of the BUYER. she Is really doing "a chart
table work. inasmuch as she is keeping
women. who might be tempted. from the
degrading pit Of debt
But ON. such stays. Like my friend
Mrs. Knickerbocker. / take the ten dollar
ones. and / realize what artists Ia stay
making the French are. There Is no
effort TO make the waist tiny. that t.
counted vulearity. But the hips and
bust are allowed 20 expand, and by their
attaining n natural size. the waist looks.
proportionately. smaller. The French
stay-maker never says:
pull IN your laces az the waist line TO
keep your fat down
He IS too wise for that Flesh pushed
from one place must 90 10 another, and
when you force IL from around tho waist
you push Il 10 the abdomen or bnst and
make yourself. from the standpoint of
grace, an abomination OF dcsolaton.
Then. too. the woman who laces Is going
10 have red hands, a red nose and watery
ewes. which goes to prove that some pun
ishmonts for wickedness are given en-
this earth.
Trifung away from the store OF the
type that caters 10 all Of MS from a ply
steal standpoint. the woman with soul
FOR shopping finds herself among the
laces. There are exquisite little medal
lions of point de Ncnise. each one 10 be
set I'm the corner OF q damask napkin, and
10 have just I'm the centre or their design
the monogram embroidered. Fancy
fortunate woman getting n damask table
cloth with q large medallion or point dc
Venise I'm one corner and the dozen din
ner napkins that go with II. each with a
smaller medallion and a smaller mon
ogram in harmony TO the woman with
q love for beautiful things the average
wedding present becomes gross beside
this. Then. there are dainty little mats
OF royal Battenburg lace to be put In your
cabinet under some specially fragile
90 D