The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-08

third of their usual cost because of the
fact that they are going out Of fashion,
it's every fellow for himself
"A great number of families in Indianapo-
lis could not begin to clothe themselves so
well were it not for these extraordinarily
cheap sales, ard there is no excuse in the
world for the well-to-do women of the
city to take part in these bargain-hunting
jams, pushing and elbowing some poor
woman out of the way so that she (the
one with plenty of money! may come into
possession of an out-of-date shirtwatst
that is selling at a ridculously low figure
and which she will doubtless refuse to
wear after she gets ii. The needy woman
buys just what she can afford to buy; her
children are proud to wear the russell shoes
that are no longer in style, and she her
self is only too glad to don the garments
that are considered behind the times The
rich bargain fiend buys anything and every
thing, just to keep somebody else from Sc
curing the articles at the low rates charged
and then proceeds to pack them all away
with lot of other bargains which she
bought the year before, which she can't
possibly use and which are of no earthly
good to her.
Charles s. Gallagher, who represents a
big New York notion and toy establish
ment, says that Americans are inclined
to overdo things. 1--WE have outraged all
the old customs of Christmas by making
our gifts such costly affairs that half of
us are almost bankrupt for months after
the holidays, and now st. Valentines day
is being overdone more and more with
each year," remarked Mr.. Gallagher, who
was in Indianapolis for a few days last
week. mot many years ago no one ever
dreamed of sending to ones beloved any
thing except an appropriate love sonnet
printed on lace paper and surrounded by
cory hearts or, at the best, an original
poem illuminated by the writer. But be-
hold the difference this year. What young
swain will send his sweetheart these dainty
paper valentines, which are becoming more
and more exquisite witch each new season?
It's only the schoolboy and the lover of old
customs who buy them nowadays. Your
young gallant sends costly violets nesting
i'm heart-shaped baskets, or enormous paper
boxes in the form of crimson hearts fur
nished with great bows of satin ribbon and
filled with the finest bon-bons to be had, or
heart-shaped jcwelry upon which he can
spend all the way from S. to a months
salary.
st Valentines day is rapidly evoluting
into as expensive gift-giving season as
Christmas, and the fashionable shopkeep-
ers, naturally enough, are doing every
thing to encourage the fad for purchasing
costly things to give away as love tokens.
OF course, heart-shaped articles the
most popular, and in this line there are
bangles for bracelets, lockets, little powder
boxes, gold miniature frames and small
mirrors all of which are jeweled or en-
ameled in most attractive way. There
are many other articles that make pretty
gifts and there is tremendous demand for
flowers of all sorts at this season. This new
custom is a pretty one for those that can
afford it, but it looks to me if it were
going to be very much overdone in the fu-
ture."
ST am thinking of starting up a pigeon
farm in southern Indiana said Ernest NJ.
CRANKY Louisville man who is interested
in pet stock of all kinds and who often
comes to Indianapolis to visit the annual
poultry shows held at Tominson Hall. Mr..
CRANKY in the city for day or two
last week and seemed enthusiastic over his
new scheme. 1.-The only big pigeon ranch.
to my knowledge. is in California he con-
tinued 1T is situated on the outskirts of
Los Angeles and at the time i visited the
place last summer there were 1900 pigeons
on the grounds, living in three large tiers
of coops or houses and in numerous smaller
ones The ranch is the most remarkable In.
dustry L have ever SEEN What to me
the most noteworthy thing about it was the