The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-05
EVENING CHAT
By RUTH CAMERON.

There is one simple. seven-letter word
in the English language that, astonish-
ing as it may seem, many women other
wise Intelligent cannot seem to define
correctly.
And this word is bargain
And the mistake most of the women
make is to confuse it in it's meaning
with the word "markdown."
Now, bargain is not necessarily a
markdown. and even more frequently
a markdOWn is not necessarily d bar
gain.
What a lot more value some wome1:
could get out 0e their money if they
could only grasp those facts as a work
ing proposition.
While 1 was waiting for my fitting
at the dressmaker's the other day a
young friend of mine came in with
some goods which she said she wanted
made into a gown to wear at afternoon
teas and on similar occasions
Its such a bargain she announced,
as she lnwrapped the goods.
In a moment she brought to light a
very soft, very heavy and rich silk of
a queer old gold color.
The dressmaker looked at it aghast.
What on earth did you buy that
fcr?"
Why, for an afternoon gown" an
swered the young person. Don't you
think it's beautiful?'
But YOU know you can't possibly
wear that on the. street," expostulated
he dreSsplaker.
I was awfuilv afraid of that, but it
was so lovely and such a bargain. Why,
just think. it was marked down from
$3.50 a yard to only SO cents. and it's
Sc inches wide
1T would make the kind of dress. :"
said the dressmaker, that a mother
would wear to her daughters wedding.
It's the kind of goods that couldn't pos
sibIy be made up into anything but an
evening gown, and it isn't at all a
pretty color for evening wear. That's
why it's marked down-and further
more it's a very trying color. What did
you get it for?'
1T was such bargain" walled my
young friend. See what lovely silk
it is
"Bargain!" exploded the dressmaker.
Nonsense! Bargain, your grandmoth-
err A thing isn't a bargain just be-
cause it's marked down to half its
value, by any means. If it was mark
ed to one-tenth it's value, and it wasn't
what you wanted and needed, and what
vas suitable for you, it wouldn't be a
bargain A thing that hasn't ever been
marked down at all, but is good quail
ity, and good value for the money. and
Just what you want and need, is a real
! bargain It's value and suitability and
Trice-not just price alone-that make
a bargain
I came away about that time, leav-
ing a chastened young person wonder
ing # she could persuade nIiddle-aged
aunt with dressy tendencies 10 take over
the useless silk.
No woman's is really fit to go shop
ping where there are apt to be bar
gains 90 unless she is capable of say
ing of every alIuring one that tempts
her:
What care I how fair she be,
If she be not fair to meg
a hove : a n llV CldTin2 Y
ample, of course.
But perhaps you can furnish some
less glaring and more typical ones from
your own experience.
Wait a rlomert before you deny that
and completely exonerate yourself from,
an inability to define bargain
1 know you aren't so foolish as the
lady with the silk. but tell me honest
", nave you never, never, hesitated
with the hesitanc- that means capitu-
lation before a blue kimona, or a can
| delabrum with pink shades, or some silk
| stockings, or any other article that you
| had had idea of buying or even
! needing or wanting until you saw the
sign, Reduced to less than half price p
If you haven't, you deserve a gold
| medal for being a most exceptional
/