The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-07-25
THE CORNER FOR
WOMEN READERS

At one time those who came into daily
contact with men and women shoppers
had a good deal to say about "extrava-
giant spenders," foolish buyers" and
"wastefui mismanagers. Now they
speak pityingly about the women who are
prey TO the shopping microbe.
There Is no other way TO account for
the vagaries by which they seem 10 he
possessed" said a jewelry store clerk.
THE other day a story was printed about
a well dressed woman who went the
rounds OF leading jewellers having expen-
sive trinkets sent G. o. ID. TO fictitious
persons at fictitious addresses. When ar
rested she said she couldn't help IL. Wen.
there isn't a store In this city that sells
jewelry that couldn't tell offhand dozen
such stories, and dozens more about c. o.
DIS sent to persons with bona hde ad-
dress who promptly sent the goods back
for some trifiing reason or other. And the
queer thing about II is that in no case
was a confidence game. Confidence games
are In another class.
These women were ladies-or seemed to
be- None wanted TO steal the piece or
jewelry she selected, nor tried TO make
off with 1t. She simply had 10 buy II, even
though she couldn't pay for 1t. There's
no kleptomania OF plain stealing about
that. It's another sort Of mania altogeth-
er.
Shopping microbe? exactly. 1t seems to
be something that gets into the blood and
plays the mischief with women VINO
haven't much spare cash.
"The other day two young women
came In to look at neck chains. the kind
that have a jewelled pendant attached.
They were not expensively dressed and
wondered when l was asked TO show
chains that cost several hundred dollars
each, but OF course / had to trot them
out I kept a sharp eye on the tray
though, and on the women who hung over
the things comparing. praising and show
ing the keenest delight in handling them.
Finally said one with a grand air: i Will
take this pointing to $500 chain and
pcndant. Please send 1t c. o. D. took
her name and address and when the pair
left the store quietly put the thing pack
In the case No, / didn't even take the
trouble to telephone, and i heard noth-
ing more from the young woman HAD the
transaction been o. X. she would nave
telephoned In a few hours asking indlg-
nantlv why the chain had not come.'
NexN TO tewelry, lingerie waists and
silk stockings are most often ordered.
with no intention of buying. In nearly
every hosiery department at this season
the display includes fascinating exam
ples in silk marked at a great bargain
sometimes as low as 81 a pair Few wom-
en- can resist them at thpt price.
The other day two stout women paused
before one of these signs. felt or the no
siery, exchanged approving nods ana
then as one was turning away. the other
said hurriedly to the saleswoman: III
take six pairs send them c. .. ID. The
saleswoman glanced at the customer
and the glance was eloquent. But without
a word she wrote down the name and
number given and took half dozen pairs
OF stockings to send to the delivery room'
.They will be back tomorrow" she an
swered In reply to a remark ABOUT pam
looking persons buying expensive goods.
IT often send stockings costing $zo pair
and more to be paid for on delivery
knowing that they are certain to be re-
turned. ] don't dare refuse to send them'
for one never can tell how much money
a woman has to spend by the way she
looks when shopping In hot weather.
Most women love beautiful stockings
silk stockings In particular-and many
can't seem to resist ordering some sent
home c. o. d. This is done far oftener
now than when I first came to this coun-
ter FIVE years ago. In fact, at that time
Il never happened at all, SO far as 1 can
remember. It's new disease, / guess.
A shopping microbe? Well. / shouldn't
wonder"
A woman identified with the C. o. d.
department OF ono OF the large depart
ment stores can furnish the most con-
vincing data respecting the fne work for
which the shopping microbe Is RESPONSE
BILE. Said she:
THE stacks OF lingerie waists and en-
broidered robes that pass through this
department twice a day-when they go
out and when they come In again--is as
tonishing. Most OF them are OF the costli-
est varieties. When the wagon boy tries
10 deliver the boxes the owners are not at
home. they are told, and there Is no one
on hand authorized to pay tho bill. so OF
course the r,,ods must come back.
This sort OF thing has come TO such n
pass here that during special sale os
when we have only few OF certain va
riety OF waist In stock the saleswomen
are instructed To refuse TO send them c.
lO. d. unless the buyer is known TO be
regular customer OF the house. ! don't
know what has gotten into shoppers OF
late, but whatever II IL they don't seem
TO be responsible for II any more than a
lyoungster is responsible for having ear
ache or the measles"