The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-22
MYSTERIES OF STORES
a. Woman Who Wore Her
Gloves At Dinner.
SHOWING WAR = is AN Art
1t Tickles the Feminine Vanity to be
Catered to--Women Should Book
Their lust TO Those Who
Care Fo' Them.

Care Fo' Them.
New York, Nov. 12-There is some
thing altogether wrong in woman who
isn't fond of shopping. OF course, there
is shopping and shopping The average
shopper drifts into a big store, is taken
by the ELUSIVE floorwalker to some special
department, and believes that she is an
expert in the art Of shopping when she
gets a cake OF soap for penny less than
she would pay at the druggists, or yard
Of ribbon for two pennies less than the
milliner would charge. She forgets that
the soap isn't done up in a pretty bit Of
paper, and that in taking the cheap rib
bon there is not shown to her the latest
novelty in the silky strings. The woman
who knows how to shop, who joys in it,
goes to those places that are specially
dedicated to women of good taste. They
arc not the shops whose departments COW
er a block They do not pretend to sell
things ut less than their value. But
they offer you dainty something that,
as yet, has no duplicates, and they cater
to you as an individual, and not as a
tribe
These are the stores where the finest
Of French underwear is shown; where
the newest way Of twisting bit Of lace
into breakfast cap is exhibited; where
the most coquettish Of rosettes for bed
room slipper is placed before you; and
where soap that is a joy 10 your skin
and perfume that is like breath from
the flowers Of paradise, are put before
you to test. These are the stores that
eater to the women who appreciate
themselves. They display something
pretty for every hour in the day of a
woman's life. There is the luxurious
looking jacket, with pale satin slippers
to match, that suggests being propped
up against a cool pillow that one may
drink a cup Of strong coffee; then there
is the bathgown with, beside it, the soap
that leaves a delicate od0r on your skin;
the perfume water that makes Croton
"a possibility in which to battle, and an
embroidered damask towel that an
nounces its eagerness to absorb the drops
Of water that persist in clinging, like dew
to the body Of flower.
WONDROUS FINERIES.
From a closed wardrobe, one that
opens its doors only to the tinkle of gold
comes the smart-looking cloth gown
with It's big hat, fur collar and lace
trimmed muff, in which Madamoiselle
goes out for a walk. From enormous
boxes appears the visiting costume; from
silver paper is brought out the dinner
gown; from a cedar chest the ermine-
lined opera cloak, and, last Of all, from
silken perfumed case, is the null robe
de suit in which, very near to the morn
ing hours Madamoiselle gowns herself
for dreams and for sleep Where are
these shops? You have to learn. Some
body whispers the address of one to me;
/ whisper it to my dearest friend, and so
the story Of the treasure-house goes a
round The proprietor, being a woman,
is usually very clever. To-day, the steam
or is to bring her a box of wonderful
wells; then somebody, who is a blonde,
gets a note telling Of the beauties of
these fine lace coquetries, and how she is
offered first choice Of one that viii inten-
sify her l0veliness; and somebody else,
who is a brunette, gets q note suggest
ing that she drop in and look at these
web-like beauties, simply to see if she
cares for one; and somebody else, who
is neither blonde nor brunette, is fatter.
ed by request that she come and look
at the pretties and give her opinion Of
them. And each note is written on the
daintiest of paper, decorated with a eli
phcr and suggestive of richness and
prettiness and womanliness, but never
Of trade.
These are the shops where the need Of
the invalid is catered to.
You, who have not a great deal of
- 4
ed by the clever proprietor that the last
importation is box of very pretty stays;
and then she shows you pair of pale
blue brocade ones, having the bones I'M
derlaid with blue plush, and the top trim
med with rose point. The price?
Thirty-fYe dollars. But the business wo-
man, who reads you and your purse with
great quickness, says to you:
My dear Mrs. Knickerbocker, there
isn't the slightest necessity of your pay
ing such a price for these stays. The
same style is developed in figure coutille
or batiste, trimmed with torchon lace,
is quite as well boned, quite as well cut,
and just as refined. or course, [ have
to cater to the foolishly extraxagant
people as well as to those of good sense,
like yourself; but l am going to advise
you not to consider these, and to take the
other ones, which you may have for
$40"
And Mrs. Knickerbocker is delighted
at the tribute paid to her position and to
her good sense. Madame keeps a Gus
toner, and eventually sells the brocade
stays to Mrs. Nouyeau Richie, to whom
she remarks:
81 imnarfed these nv dao4 RFre Nom
voau Richie, with thought Of you. /
absolutely refused to let Mrs Knicker-
booker have them, because with such an
exquisite pair Of stays there must be
everything in harmony
Blame her? Not a bit. She il simply
being all things to all women, and by
catering to each according to the purse
Of the buyer she is really doing charita-
BILE work, inasmuch as she is keeping wo-