The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-01
DIVORCE AND DRESSMAKTNG


Northern Visitor RSxpIalns Her System Of
Economy anal TO Prove lC Cites the
story OG PalIe. who Made a FrOCk
ami Caught Her Husband In One Day.
The question was tight money and the
expensivsness OF clothes. The men OF the
party all declared that American women.
especially the women Of New York. wouldn't
think OF wearing a gown that cost As little
as the average business suit Of the men of
their family. One OF the women took up
the gauntlet.
What did your waistooat cost9' she
asked the man at her elbow.
Fifteen dollars. the man replied.
My gown" the woman replied. drawing
out one Of the Trills OF the skirt that he
might see the dainty lace and tucking.
cost Just four dollars and sixty-five cents,
Yes. 1 am in earnest. and two-thirds Of the
gowns l had last summer were equally
inexpensive. The making cost just one
dollar. IL was la last spring while 1
was IN the South. and IL much better made
n II l had paid fifty times as much to
have it made here in New York.
when We go South We have made
point OF finding COngenial families who take
a Few boarders. 1t was in one OF these
families last winter-we were the only out
slders in the house-that 1 had this gown
made, or course Then you get in with a
family in the South you learn all their little
secrets. n among them their economies.
These friends with whom I boarded last
winter had a sewing woman. a negress. as
all sewing women in the South are. Her
charges were s~eventy-five cents a day and
meals. Her meals COST me the other twenty
1ve cents, n might have cost me nothing
had 1 not insisted that the lady with whom
we boarded should make some charge.
-Pallie- the sewing woman. not only made
this gown in one day but also began proceed
ings for a divorce. We were all. the two
girls OF the family, my mother and myself.
seated on the side veranda sewing when we
heard an exclamation from PalIie. who was
at them machine just within the window OF
the library which opened out on the veranda.
There was a swirl Of white muslin and the
next thing we saw was Pallie running down
the back steps, with the skirt OF his gown
thrown over her head.
W ran out to see what was the matter.
II she heard our calls she did not heed them.
Through the vegetable garden. over the
fence. through the COW lot, over another
fence. to the public road. There she was
lost TO view and we all began to speculate
on PalIie and the fate OF my white muslin.
Half an hour later one Of the girls exclaimed.
and there was Pallie walking past the house.
on the public road. following a tall yellow
man step by step. holding him firmly by the
coat tail.
Its her husband one OF the girls whis-
pered. keeping her eyes fastened on her
sewing. She has had a lot Of trouble
with him.. She will be mortified to death
II she catches us watching her. She il
taking min to jail
But my white dress I objected.
"Oh. she won't hurt IL. She is much
too careful for that.1he lady Of the house
assured me.
-Of course there go nothing to do under
the circumstances but to sit and wait.
Neither the lady nor the two girls seemed
willing to gossip about PalIie's domestic
affairs, so mother and 1 were forced to
accept the situation and hope for the best.
One hour passed. then two. Twas beginning
TO feel really uneasy when l noticed that
one Of the girls pricked up her ears and
exchanged amused glances with her mother
and sister. A voice was singing. Listened
and recognized PaIIie's voice.
The singing ended when PaIlie's feet
touched the back steps; then she came up
and made her apology
81 ies' couldn't help it. miss she said.
addressing the lady of the house. L amt
seed dat low down trifiing niger sence he
done broke in my house an stole dat new
rockin' cheer what l guv three dollars fer.
Yes'm, he stole dat rocker, an den he ies'
lit out. When looked up from my sewin'
an seed i'm walkin' down dat big road
! big as Cuify l sed to myself at once, DE
Lord done sent you in my way an rs
l boun' fer to cotch YER"
II did cOtch i'm. miss. jest as he was
turnin' do ben or de road. I turned him
right smack eroun' in his track an took in
right TO Mr.. ledge Dawson. Nom, I didn't
ak EN- to put 'im'in jail. I jes' tells Mr..
Judge Dawson ter write me out a divorce
paper an make dat low down triiin' Niger
gimme me my dollar and a half in change.
Yes'm, dat's what 10 comm to me. You see.
Jake never paid de ledge but a dollar inc a
half fer me when he married me at de cote
'ouse. So I jes' low ef he'll guv me back
de change, dc dollar and a half what IL left
- Ia H.. . gEO -