Evening star., 1898-12-10
Copyright. 1898. by John Brisben Walker.l
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star

Copyright. 1898 by John Brisben wakerl
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, December o. 1898.
Three New York women go about chuck
Ing and Dragging of the success of an ex-
pertinent. That whereof they boast would
rot please all women, nor yet be possible
TO them; but it may interest busy folks and
invalids an attempt to solve the problem
Of shopping.
About year ago these three women ar
ranged with n fourth to be clothed, as the
lilies of the field are clothed. without toll
ing or spinning. They wished to have moth
ing to do with dry goods stores, shoe shops
Cl rnilliners; to be dressed from head to
feet in such manner as they had been ac-
customed and for such sums they usu-
ally paid but without expense of time or
energy.
Two of the three are business women
whose occupations require all their
strength The third is a wise woman, in
that she knows her taste Is poor and that
she makes a good appearance in proper
fiOn she employs the services of some
one more artistic.
The other party to the experiment is a
young dresSmaker of unusual capacity and
originality. Prevented by the care of young
children from undertaking large business,
she finds in responsibility for three ward
robes. with occasional work for outside Gus
toners about all she cares to do.
This is the method of operation. The
dressmaker visits her patrons periodically
and overhauls their bureau drawers and
closets. making lists of what purchases are
needed in the way OF underwear, shoes,
gloves and minor fixings. She inspects
dresses, hats and wraps and decides what
may be repaired or remodeled, and what
gaps must be supplied. She knows each
woman's tastes. knows her measurements,
knows her wardrobe So thoroughly as TO
h.. lfAtlg1 10
matter Of coIors, and in suiting headgear
TO wraps and gowns; and finally, she so
times her visits as seldom to be hurried In
the selection of articles, doing for her pat
r,us just that Ieisurely. judicious shopping
which is necessary to the woman whose
dollars must go as far as possible.
Taste and Economy Combined.
The three clients are in moderate circum-
stances-not one Of them makes herself
more than a strictly limited dress allow
aucc-aud this element of time is all that
makes the system workable. The dress
maker Suiting her own convenience as to
1fipS and dovetailing her errands for dlt-
ferent people. is able to work nearly on the
basis Of the professional shopper who
makes no charge. finding her profit in the
commissions allowed by the stores. From
figures supplied me. it appears that $; /
time charges, where the commissions
amounted To nothing, is the entire cost of
a seasons shopping to one Of the three
CNperimenters
Purchases other than materials are some
times sent from the shops to their destined
owners. and sometimes delivered to the
dress maker for inspection and approval.
To her dresses and hats each woman de-
votes what time she chooses. but the aver
age is small. Il must have Il house dress
tailor dress; you know the kind of thing
like and about what l ought to pay repre-
sentS almost an average order.
The drcsSmaker uses TO a practically un-
limited extent her own judgment in the
matter of materials and decOrations-which
T. where her part of the fun comes in Sne
enjoys filing up her three customers as
hugely as a little girl enjoys dressing dolls.
When they don't take care of their clothes
she sccIds and threatens to make them no
mere nice things. Never two Of the three
get together but they find the strongest
word Of approval the little dressmaker
VOuchSafes is the assurance to one that
shes not so hard on her clothes as the
other.
Where the system Begins.
When material for dress has been
bought the customer gets word by mail that
she must he fitted on or about a certain
date. For an extra charge of $50 per fit
ting this ceremony Is conducted at the Gus
toners home: otherwise she repairs to the
drcssmaker. In either case she first be
Is to h. Clothed-an ignorance as delightful
10 the three as il i to the housekeeper not
10 know until meal time what she's 10 have
for dinner
A. to results. have already said that the
three go about chuckiius and boring their
acquJ iutauces with tales of the greatness