The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
SECONDHAND CLOTHES ron WOMEN.
Changes in the Trade Caused by Extrava-
giant Fashions.

The second hand clothing business as re-
CARDS women has attained some curious de-
velopments.
Now, these are art galleries." said an
auctioneer. I'VE sell rare mosaics, Car
rara marbles, oil paintings. cabinets, and
rich bric-a-brac. But this morning sold
fifty hats and bonnets, the stock of a re-
firing frst-rank mlliner, and twenty five
lots Of second-ha silk lined gowns and
wraps, dinner, ball, and street costumes.
the real creations OF world famous mo-
distes. You saw that tall. rather distin-
guished looking woman who went out a
moment ago? She wouldn't strike one as a
second hand clothes dealer. would she? But
she bid in nearly the whole consignment,
and she'll make pretty figure out Of 1t,
and make a number Of clients happy as the
result Of her mornings work. She doesn't
conine her operations to one locality or to
two or three. She goes about things In q
dgnihed, matter of-course way that allays
scruples and assures her trade Trans
actions confidential is prefaced with an
asterisk at the foot Of her announcement
cards-cards that she sees to 1t reach the
right people. and she has dressmakers.
hand. / know of four or five other notably
successful second hand dealers in various
parts The best OF them do a legitimate
business. with people too wideawake to be
taken in. The rising mark OF luxury has
put distinct commercial value on clothes.
A dress made of the best silk or cloth that
can be found and lined, trimmed, and fitted
out with costly material, has always value.
The same thing with good jewelry that Is
little old-fashoned with dimty. linen.
and fine white goods only needing making
over to be serviceable as ever; with
shoes q tride off the latest type, but scarce
ly worn, with opera cloaks and furs only
needing the cleaners and remodeller's care,
! with iannels slightly shrunken and worn,
| but good for a long time still. All these
| the dealer turns to good account. fash
| ionable woman now has to have so many
| and variously assorted appointments for
| different functions, and must comply so
| strictly to the styles, that the clothes don't
| get chance to wear out before being
thrown aside; and, moreover, they are 80
I, costly, and those that must replace them
| are so costly. that any hard cash put In the
| owners hand on their account is not to be
shifted at. The secondhand dealer has
evolved from these conditions; and to bring
| the people who could use these cast -offs
| In sight and touch OF the bargains Is easy
enough to those who know how.
"a lady suddenly CALLED into mourning.
having distinctive, new costumes made by
half value; seen between and s. second
| floor apartment, $40 Blank Street. will be
the form Of the advertisement. No. SIC
| is in a good neighborhood; the lady called
! into mourning must be fashionable per-
son, with things worth seeing. the readers
conclude They 60 to see and price; the
| dealer knows how to display her goods.
| The lady in mourning does not, OF course,
appear. and the cleansed and remodellsd
| costumes from THO art-galleries sale find
buyers. Lady going abroad for year
will sell her scarcely used outfit OF costly
wraps and gowns. all bearing trade marks
| of wellknown makers, 10 another pri-
| vate-sale announcement issuing from the
same source. The address In this case
| proves to BE the parlors Of we'll estab-
lished dressmaker.
"'That's an Arpaud gown worth $500. The
price now $95, says the saleswoman, as
the fine figured young woman model re-
| wolves slowly IN order 60 show of q superb
peach blow satin, trimmed with effective
| lace and floats OF ribbons. The customer
knows good stun when she sees It. She
knows when dress Is built on good lines.
| and, although she may not swallow tho en-
| tire $500 fable. she realizes that when the
dealer has taken S25 OF the $S5, she will
| be getting the worth OF her money. She
| sits down in a rocker to think 1t over
while an attendant brings her pick me up
and gets ready to show OF the other bar
| gains. The women who 60 to overhaul.
| price, and size up the wares are Of the
| sort who would never buy cheap things in
| a shop, and who never wear cheap clothes,
| however plain, but who. although ambitious,
! are limited in means. and have TO exert all
| their energies in making out on a skinny
! allowance. They would never take a gown
| or a wrap with a soiled lining in 1t. or a
rubbed and worn foot frlll. but the bureau
| looks we'll to these details, before offering,
and In nearly every case gives good value.
| The manager knows we'll when to put in
a word That will give romantic interest or
additional Importance to her wares.
| That's a Vanderhouse gown. came straight
from the family, she says in regard to the
black cloth gown that a pretty young woman
customer is trying on In the private rooms.
| 4 happen to know just how and when 1t was
ordered from Robinson, In London last year.
Just see the qualityof that silk lining, and tho
| cut Of the sleeve is exactly what they are
wearing now. That open net effect on white
| on the yoke Is nice touch; suits your style.
Some time I'll tell you how / happened to
get this lot The young lady likes the suit.
Well here is the hat to go with It. Such
tips and that dear old buckle mark 1t at once
as uncommon The whole thing, with ex-
ira stock collar and belt. will go for $28 and
It will wear for three winters. and never look
| commonplace.
THE young woman. who travels for q no.
velty company, and depends upon dress and
| good looks for her entering wedge in strange
offices pays the $28 cash down. and turns to
look at the stock OF fancy waists and silk
| pclllCOdlb
I'm delighted to have found you out,
picturesque looking woman Is saying as
she puts the pretty hair ornament she had
been examining back on the table. open
| with a concert and variety company on the
list Of September, and need Just three cos
tunes; good. SNOWY looking, but not expen-
sive can't go the price Of any of these
here. Not over $50 apiece all evening
gowns. Send me word promptly when you
have anything, and pat me down for the red
kersey cloth cloak. I must have that and
she takes leave in excellent humor.
"The dealer puts down many important
memoranda during the day. Mrs. X. at
the family hotel wants a wide skIrted silk
velvet gown, something good but as reason
able as possible. that she oan cut up into
coats and hats for her twoslittle girls. Never
: mind how frowsy or soiled the waist ls;
the skirt breadths are the main thing Miss
Smallwages, the typewriter. wants q real
sealskin wrap. Later in the day q pen
and-ink artist. a married. woman, who Is
hard UP. comes In to sell the pawn ticket