The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-06
GOOD RETAIL BUSINESS
HAVE HAD A FINE SEA-
son AND ARE REDUCING STOCKS.
Prices Cut in Dry Goods and other
stores in Order to Clean
Up for Spring.

unanimous sentiment of leaders in business
circles was to the effect that conditions
have very materially improved within the
last six months. 1t is said that business is
better, sales are larger, higher grade goods
more in demand and there is a more hopeful
feeling among the merchants than for sew
eral years past. Equally unanimous is the
opinion upon the part of those interviewed
that the Improvement is permanent. The
| receipts of one firm in town for the last six
months over the corresponding six months
of 1897 show an increase of Is per cent.
while another firms increase is 20 per cent.
in favor of 1898
This will be a month of sales, there being
reduction on goods in every department.
and especially so in linens muslin under
wear and ready-made garments, among
which are some very swell imported gowns
and Jackets, capes and furs. One reliable
firm on Washington street is selling lnen
the best quality, at a reduction of 10 to 20
per cent 1t is linen which the firm wishes
to set rid of to make room for more stock
and is truly bargain, and one which the
average housewife could not we'll afford to
miss. Other firms on Washington street are
also advertising linen sales, which are equal
ly desirable, at amazingly low figures. A
few prices as quoted in the linen depart
ment are as follows: Seventy-two-inch half
| bleached table linen, new patterns, regular
S1.25 value, now selling for 90 cents 75-cent
quality half beached table damask sixty
four inches wide, now selling for SO cents:
Decent quality unbleached, seventy-two
inches wide SO cents; the seventy-two-inch
unbleached in ribbon, rose and thistle pat
terms, 50 cents. Bleached 75-cent quality
seventytwo inches wide, will be closed out
at SO cents, while the 81 quality in all the
latest patterns will sell for So cents
Damasks seventy and seventyrtwo inches
wide, regular $l.25 value, now sell for 80
cents. Napkins to match can be bought in
the five-eighths and three-quarter sizes at
the same noticeable reduction.
There is a great reduction in all the big
stores in the jackets, coaks and ready
made garments department. All the inn
ported velour capes and velour velvet jack
cts and opera wraps which sold in the early
part of the season for $50 to $100 now will
be closed at SIS to SIS, at just one-half the
price. In the ready-made garments, tailor
suits and separate skirts there is also a
marked reduction, and among the assOrt-
ment are some lovely Paris and London
gowns, which in the early season were
worth from SIS to $3.50, that can now be pur-
chased for half price, an offer which ought
to be big inducement to people living out
of town and who have not an opportunity of
patronizing the fashionable modistes of a
city. These dresses are all made of the finest
material, all silk lined and will be stylish a
! year hence. In cloth Jackets one firm on
Washington street announces a discount Of
80 Is per cent, and in the assortment, which
is quite large, there are jackets to suit
every purse, in all the fashionable colors.
Handsome silk petticoats can be bought for
song this month. At one of the stores
which displays a large assortment in all
colors and styles there is quite a marked
reduction High-priced petticoats which
sold for $40 to $50 before Christmas are put
down to $3.50. The lower priced petticoats
range in price from IS upward. The time
for selling fur is short and many of the
merchants are anxious to dispose of their
| stock, except sealskins, which still remain
solid. and all the handsome scarfs, muffs
and neck pieces must go, and prices have
been cut so deeply that they are within the
range OF many purses People living out
side can order through mail and their or
ders will receive immediate attention. The
women who are DESTROYS of having a brand
new silk shirt waist should attend the silk
remnant sales at all the stores. On Tues
| day morning at one of the big stores car
| T1ageS blocked the street for almost a
| square, and when one went inside there was
| a veritable mob of women at the remnant
worth of silks which were offered In the
morning for sale had been disposed of. How
ever, there is another lot to be sold, and it
! is worth while looking them over as they
| contain some real bargains
LACES AND EAdBROIDERIES
During this month of sales the customary
offerings of laces and embroideries will be
made. The merchants have procured some
tempting lots for this purpose, including the
newest ideas in their spring collections
Among the assortment are many tasteful
| designs on cambria nainsook and swiss in
| the form of edgings, insertions, and wider
| range than ever of allovers. One firm is
making preparations to surprise shoppers
next week with a display of imported stuffs
| for spring and summer, lovely French and
| Irish dimities silk warp organizes and
| piques ETC., in all the pretty and dainty
| coloring and brilliant effects, which are sure
| to make the summer fabrics faVorites. This
! firm also shows new ideas in sateens. In
dimities all the new fresh tints of blue pre-
vail, while several shades of yellow are
among, the foremost. In the dimities and
| organizes, and in fact, all the thin sum-
| mer fabrics stripes of satin divided by a
! delicate hgure are carried out coored
| or white background, producing the idea of
lace open work. Then again two-inch
| satin stripe will be followed by a stripe of
| the same width resembling pekin or gros
| grain. Louis XIV designs and bow knots in
| light goods are very prominent Polka dots
| Will again be the rage in spring styles in all
/ COlOIS anu sizes, III all SORTS Oh materials.
| Black and white effects in sateen are promi-
nent. The American dimities can be pur-
| chased for one-half the price paid for the
imported ones, but they cannot be guaran-
| teed not to fade, as can the imported. Silk
| warp organizes with wide satin stripes on
| plain and colored background are shown in
! all the delicate and brilliant colors. A very
pretty thing shown is called javanaise,
| something similar to silk striped challie
! only the texture is finer. Some lovely pat
| terms are shown in the new patterns. At
! this season there is always a midseason re-
| vival in millinery departments, although it is
| hard to excite interest in that department
| because everything is fiat and dull as it is
| about the end of the winter. However there
is a reduction in all the staple shapes in
| Guiding flats and short-back sailors which
never go out of style, and ostrich plumes
can be bought almost at cost prices.
The art departments should not be
neglected at this time, and lovers of pretty
things for the home could not help but buy
at the temptingly priced bric-a-brac and
odd pieces of rare china when economy is
so manifest. The art embroidery depart
ments offer several lots of daintily executed
pieces in various sizes, some large enough
for lunch cloth, at low figures.
CITY NEWS NOTES.