The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-08
WOMEN Of ST.PAUL
SHOULD BE LOYAL
tiousekeeDers Who Do Buying
Should PatrOnize Home
industries

The talk and agitation about what is
good for St. Paul and how to work for
its interests. ought to be of impor-
tance to the women as it is they, after
all, who have the matter in their
hands. If the feminine portion of the
population should take it into their
heads TO be extremely loyal to home
Industries. and should make civic
pride fad, like any other fad, St
Paul would be in the lead For il is
the women who do the buying. and it
is women who talk. Nothing invidious
is meant by the last remark for talk
is not always gossip and there are
those, who shall remain nameless, who
are greater gossips than women. If
the latter are thoroughly organized and
really interested in the object for which
they come together, there is no limit
to the work they can do or the good
they might effect.
There seems to be a lack of some
thing in st. Paul, and while it may be
the fault of some too conservative men,
the women are largely to blame also.
1t would be q comparatively easy thing
for a woman to inquire about the goods
she buys at her grocer's or other shops
and find out whether she is getting
those made at home. If she becomes
convinced that home brands are not
the best, let her interest those con-
may be raised. The st. Paul woman
who buys her gowns in Chicago or Min
neapolis, her hats and shoes in New
York, is not only disloyal to her own
city, but in a way is hurting it. OF
course, this is not to say that woman
has not the right to do these things;
she has the right and no one should at
tempt to coerce her, but if she does
them she is not loyal to st. Paul. 1t
lies with the women themselves wheth-
er or not they will take the trouble to
put their shoulders to the wheel and
work for the best interests of the
city.
Just as good things to eat. to wear
and to use in the house, are made right
here as anywhere. We have the best
of shops. the finest dreSSmakers, the
most artistic milliners, ETC., as they
have anywhere. The writer happens to
know of one or two st. Paul women
who have moved away from here, but
still buy everything they wear in this
city. One of these women lives in a
suburb of Philadelphia, and yet keeps
accounts here, does her shopping by
mail order and every year comes here
and has her wardrobe replenished by
a dressmaker who has made her gowns
for years. She does this because she
says she can do as We'll and better than
if she shopped in the east Now this
woman is noted in the suburb in which
she lives for the excellent way she
dresses, and it is a standing joke among
her friends that her western frocks
are more up to date than theirs.
OF course it is not necessary for any
woman to do this, but it is mentioned
here to show that st. Paul is not in
the least behind the times in fashions
or anything else.
In the matter of foods all sorts of
things are manufactured here and the
woman ~hu wishes to help the city
along will take pains to inform herself
about home industries and patronize
them. Shoes, hats, coats, skirts, under
wear are all manufactured here, and
the loyal citizeness should ask for home
made goods when shopping. There is
nothing the matter with St Paul that
cannot be remedied by a little civic
patriotism and more good can be effect
ed by women than by men.
In a year from the coming month,
st. Paul is to entertain the largest body
of women that convenes in this coun-
try the biennial of the women's clubs
which is to meet here in May, 1906.
1t is a tremendous undertaking to ar
range for it's coming, and to entertain
the women when they are here, but it
will be an excellent thing for st. Paul
and bring in a great deal of money.
However, unless there are enough Wom-
Ell who care sufficiently for the fair
name of the city to work hard and
pull together the affair is going to drag
and the clubwomen will not be likely
to advertise ST Paul by speaking well
of it. Civic pride and a willingness to
show by practical work, our loyalty to
St. Paul, must go hand in hand if we
are. to. become great.