The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-10-21
Impressions Of a
Feminine. Observer


It is very curious and a matter for re-
sret how few women in this enlightened
community seem to take an interest In
the afairs OF the city,
They seem TO lack much in civic pride
and their ideas as to their duties as citi-
zens are exceedingly hazy.
Day after day one hears at any gath
ering OF women loud outcry against the
lack of enterprise in the city, and the con-
uaSuas OF 1t WITH the prosperity OF other
cities. but IN the next breath the one loud
est Ii condemnation tells that she goes
TO New York to buy her dresses: Baiti-
more to have her shoes made, and her
furniture comes from goodness knows
where She never dreams that she doesn't
GO everything TO neip prosperity along
On no, IL is always somebody eise's fault
The sending away shopping habit, seems to
DE growing. and many of those who real
~ nave everything of the hoc,e-made
variety are snobo.sh enough 10 pretend
that their things come from the North
or abroad
Recently one of the sweet girls in the
caty. who has always gone in the best
society. but who found her funds rather
depleted. was persuaded to turn her dress
making talent to account, and made for
one Of her friends a dress beautiful! and
artistic enough to have been turned out
by a modiste
10 you want to do me a favor. the
little dressmaker said to a good friend?
Well, just tell her how beautiful her
dress Is, and may get another order"
AT the inst opportunity the friend be-
came enthusiastic over the beauty OF the
new gown. but imagine her surprise when
the owner said with the greatest gusto:
1t ougn. to be pretty: mother Just
brought it from our modiste in New
York; rs
But the effect was the same, and an
order for another dress is already given.
heard q. new term for dry goods
emporium the other day, which was rath-
G startling.
He looked every inch the college senior
he ts-the kind of man the girls always
refer to as a sweet fellow lie was on
Broad Street with a married sister, shop
ping for necessary things, he said, more
especially for sofa cushions, / suspected.
He wore a detected look and appeared
thoroughly uncomfortable and unhappy.
1T Is too bad you must leave home 50
soon." I niuttered sy1npa thetically.''
oh! it isn't that at ALL but my sister
has kept me here all morning wasting
stores,'' and he locked with contempt at
the mammoth dry goods house we were
passing.
She was a. very pretty girl, and as she
boarded the car every one looked at her
in admiration, and best Of all, she was so
pleased with herself
It was the first outing of her new dress,
and the Importance OF the occasion was
<,lr coll 1,,-
on her head, and even the feathers wore
proud look of qualification. Her tailor
gown was Of the new blue, with the popu-
lar flare skirt She was enjoying herself
10 the utmost, when in an evil moment
the car stopped. A woman got in and
sat next to her. She was colored. And
she had on a suit-the twin-sister of hersl
Same color, same make, same flare. The
passengers all grinned. The maiden fair
:sttod it for a couple of blocks, then, with
a proud 1-don't-care toss of her head
she stalked out of the car.
It is always a source Of wonderment
how people in large cities, where row
after Tow of houses present precisely the
sam appearance. manage to find their
own firesides without trespassing on their
aeiShbors' domains-particularly since all
the 1a1ch-keys seem to be made for enc
lock
An amusing accident occurred in this
city recently. where a block of houses
are so uniformly built to present not
one shade of difference
In one house was a poor, lone man whose
Deter nan had not Yet returned from her
summer lifting. He was taken sick in
the night, and by morning was able 10
crawl next door and beg his neighbor for
cup OF coffee. She at once realized that
he was in need Of feminine assistance.
and insisted on his remaining over Mt
her house
AT diner-time, when her lord and mas
ire came home. opened the door and went
i'p stairs. what was his surprise TO see
NIT. a. his next door neighbor. living IN
bed. 'oh. / beg your pardon / must
De in the wrong house. he said. and be-
fore anything could be explained hurried
~ lett the house. opened the next door
and found his nghbors on The other
side at their midday meal. It took a
cong time to see it right, and hereafter
main.
An incident that occurred in Richmond
store the other day revealed the fact that
OF all careful people the native of Italy
must be the most
An Italian chestnut and fruit vander
was making a purchase-he pulled out
Few Mckels from another pocket and still
the amount was not adequate for the
purchase He looked disconnected, but f.
nally he ulbutoued his coat. then his
vest. next his shirt. under this was anorf,-
.e- vest made of coarse sack:ng which ne
loosened and revealed his undervest. On
the inside of this was a huge pocket
next his heart-and from this he distracted
a large wallet. we'll filled with bank notes
He took out Two dollars paid his BILL re-
ss;ttoned his ea11nent over his precious
burden, cast a suspicious glance around.
and left The stora utterly unconscious
pc the Interest he had excited.
IN one Of the poorest districts Of the
city young teacher. conscientious and
striving hard for good results, had a
rather unexpected experience, the other
day. Sh is an earnest believer in the
development method. and prefers rather
% draw the children out than to give
them Information they might gain for
themselves. she wrote on the board the
aetIere bath, Now, johnny she
said. 'can you tell me what bath means?''
n q avn =, la.