The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-07

These are the beginning of the days
that bring careworn looks to the faces
OF the girls behind the counters, for
with the appearance of the Christmas
goods the professional shoppers turn
out in full force. and the professional
shopper is the bane of the clerks.
Everyone enjoys looking at all the
new pretty things, and in most cases
the clerks enjoy showing their goods
whether they buy or not. if they but
return the clerks politeness in a like
spirit. The ordinary clerk can spot a
professional shopper in very few min
utes, and her natural kindness deserts
her at once for the professional shop
per is critical and fault finding; she
goes early, and often when the weary
clerk is ready to put away her wares
for the night she is still there lingering
everything and buying nothing.
There are two sides TO every question,
and this is no exception to the rule. for
there is as much difference in the girls
behind the counters as there is in the
customers they meet day after day
The majority of the girls are kind and
polite and take an absolute pleasure in
pleasing their customers, and most Gus
toners show a corresponding considera-
ton.
but a few minutes and consider they
will doubtless come to the conclusion
that, though they move in a different
sphere of society. both are human, and
both have their rights which should be
considered.
In very few towns the size of Topeka
is there. such a superior class of sales
women as there are here. Many of
them are well educated and in few
cases they go in the best society. and
there are numberless others who are
adapted to it. 1t is a hard life though,
and leaves little time or inclination for
social pleasures.
A Few Christmas Hints.
When trying to think of appropriate
gifts for relatives and friends it seems
sometimes as though there is absolutely
nothing one wants. but upon reviewing
the subject in general it seems as
though there were great many things,
says Mollie Morris in the Daily News.
For a young girl. for instance. one
may make neckties, stock collars. pretty
sofa pillows, little opera hoods. bags of
silk and ribbon to carry dancing slip
pers In, glove cases. handkerchief
boxes, little knitted pocket bags covered
with silver scales or spangles.
For mother, embroidered centerpieces
for the table, new set of table nap
kins neatly hemmed by hand-how glad
she will be to get such dreadful task
done without attending to it herself
and frames for some of her favorite
photogra phs made of burnt leather or of
burnt Wood-pyrOgraphy it is called. you
know. Frames made of embroidered
not very durable. as one seldom enjoys
the task of taking a cover off. cleaning
1t and then replacing it. A good, serv-
iceable and artistic shopping bag is
gift that ones mother is usually glad
TO get-and, besides. they are quite
fashionable nowadays.
For father or brother or friend
necktie case, sensible glove box a
book rack, a sofa pillow, if you know
that he has coy corner to put it in;
a handkerchief with his initial embroid-
cred on it. necktie, If you have the
courage 10 choose one for him. and. if
he specially requests it, a smoking set
or pipe case. Don't venture to invite
the gentleman to begin smoking just
to md use for a lovely Christmas pres
ent. One would think it would save a
great deal of airing of apartments if
the smoking set were a superfiuity.
Ones Shoes and Walk Indicate Character
An observing man insists that he can
tell a WDmanS character by her man.
ner or walking. and the kind of shoes
she wears He says that the listless
way of lifting ones feet indicates lazi-
ness or ill health. A heavy fat-footed
step means a good housekeeper. but an
aggressive nature A dragging, shut
fling step denotes Incidence of mind
and body. He observes further that
the woman who likes mannish shoes is
not dainty or feminine and that the
in the street and dainty slippers in the
house.
The French miIiner.
A noticeable point about Partisan
millinery is the use of materials for
decoration that the American milliner
is rather afraid to handle The French
milliner takes a circle of coarse dark
gray linen. fashions it into fiat plate
t0Que, lines it off the face with tucks
of white tulle hemmed with white
straw, Grapes twisted strands of straw
about the crown or top of the plate,
puts a fancy white plume on some
where toward the back and then sells
1t as creation, says the Star.
Tne Partisan allows herself a free
hand In the selection of birds and
plumage to complete her work She is
fond of the green parrot. the entire sea
gun and the peacock feather, and all
these bizarre ornaments are effective
when manipulated by her skillful
hands.
A quaint. newly created French hat
n the marquis shape is Of white felt.