The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-02-18
Shopping Is Woman's Duty
Otherwise Who Would Spend tho
Money Man Rarns1

NV GU here!" exclaimed the sweet
faced old Indy. seating herself
by u blooming young matron at the
lunch counter. The two were Mrs.
Golden Wedding and Mrs. June Bride,
Of Staten island. "Why. didn't know
you we're coming into town to-day, my
dear" she continued, "clse we should
have arranged to take that tedious ride
together. thought you'd finished
your shopping"
"Docs II woman ever finish shop
ping?" asked the young woman, qucru-
lousy. "Mr. June Bride hurts my feel
ings about this shopping business.
Will you tell me why men ridiculc wom-
en- SO eternally about shopping? We
Jokes because we shop, and we are con-
stantly tainted for 1t by those who
pretend TO care for us. One would think
that the chief end and aim Of every liv-
ing woman's existence wns to go into
the stores and buy things that she
doesn't need, just because they are adj
vcrtiscd al bargain"
All of the women ut the counter in
hearing distance gave the author OF
this out burst an encouraging sympa-
thctic look.
"rm downright glud you brought
the subject up, dearic," answered Mrs.
Golden Wedding, soothingly. "lt's one
I've often wanted to speak to you about.
We poor women nrc all very much mis-
understood about this shopping busi-
ness"
"There, always said So" exclaimed
little woman across the counter, who
made no bones about listening to the
conversation.
"rhc average man thinks the aver
age woman enjoys shopping. cdntin-
ucd the old lady. "Shc does not. but 1t
Is the business, the duty, may say, Of
the average woman, and If she neglects
1t her household will soon 90 to rack
and ruin"
"What's that?" asked Mrs. June
Bride. engerly.
"Simply this: 1t is mans business
to make money and woman's business
to spend IT. II she spends it reckless
ly and foolishly and wastefully then
she is n failure, but she does not do her
full duty as wife and mother unless she
knows how to spend her husbands
money judiciously, wisely and well.
Man twits woman about her propcn-
sity for shopping. II she didn't shop,
who would buy things? Who has the
an? The woman, of course. and it's her
business to look out for the best value
for her money"
II just hate 10 shop" interrupted the
young woman. 81 always have n head
ache after II morning in the stores and
nothing Tags me more completely"
mine women out Of ten feel the
same way about IT," answered Mrs.
Golden Wedding. "but we might shy 30
until doomsday and no nun would be-
lieve us, except my husband. l gave
him lesson years ago that he won't
forget"
'Do tell me about IT," urged the
younger one. and nll the other women
deliberately listened.
swell. il was this way. He twitted
me every morning nnd every afternoon
about my shopping and seemed to be
under the impression that I didn't
know how to do anything else, didn't
want TO know how, and that was oil /
did. was crazy 10 master French and
German at the time and it fretted me
because had TO do so much shopping,
but we were very poor then and con-
sidered it just rs much q part Of my
business to spend our Income 10 the
best Of my ability as it was his to make
1t. spent great deal of time mnls-
ing that money go long way. At last
] got tired Of having fun polted at me,
and determined TO quit shopping nlto-
gcthcr. l did, and petty coon chaos
rcigncd in our little home. ordered
my meat and groceries from the boys
who came 10 the door, never counting
the cost or anything. and when any ar
brcad?" "You can do as you like about
it, darlng.' he replied, but certainly
shall insist upon your not baking mine"
81 had a dreadful time with F'ido all
last week" "Why, what was the mat
ter?" ooh. he made himself frightfully
Ill from eating some Christmas candy
we bought for poor family"
What did you do with your puzzle
cditor?" asked the friend of the editor of
the new magazine. discharged him."
replied the editor. Gle couldn't guess