Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-11
THE WOMAN SHOPPER.
Education in Textiles Necessary if
Proper Management Is Desired.

was corplete until she knew something
Of textiles. and that she should know
well the fundamental principles of draw
ing. ! thought he had the spirit of the
enthusiast along these lines, and that
maybe he was extreme. But when fur
Their in his discourse he proved that
woman could not shop intelligently, I'M
less she did know something of textiles
I began to realize how practical his sug-
gestlons were.
aIow can a woman, looking at mate
rial in a crowded store, with sometimes
poor light, and only getting casual
Glance. feel assured she is getting the
worth of her money!" asked DIR. Har-
vev and the women in his audience
leaned forward.
mot even can you know the real value
of the material by feeling it, nor can you
trust the expert behind the counter
whose first duty is to sell goods ana
so OIL. DR. Harvey became convincing
that one of the first things a woman
should learn was textiles and everything
she could learn pertaining to what men
and women wear. their manufacture OF
this apparel; then everything when goes
into the home, as well as the right COLI
struction of that home-ventilauon' SAM
tatiot, and last. but not least, its adofh-
ment. the architectural scheme without
and within, and then how to furnish II.
Under this branch of knowledge would
come the necessity of her learning to
draw. to train her eyes as to line and
svmmetrv-then as to harmony of color
and coming back is the necessity again
of textiles. that she may select the right
kind of draperies, creton for the sum
mer furnishings. and all the accessories
of the home in which textiles play
large part.
The idea of a woman bringing the mat
ter of shopping down to science may
seem at first amusing, as most people
are ant to think amusing anything per-
tanning to a woman and money matters,
but shopping is one of the most serious
duties a woman has to perform. To
some it may be a pleasant duty; to the
woman who has an unlimited bank &C
count (Which few women have), but TO
the woman who must stop to count the
change: who must save out for little
Tommy's Shoes for Annies bonnet and
even for hubby's socks shopping be-
comes a problem, and one which should
be worked out practically, If not seien-
tifcally.
Not long ago some statistician very
cruelty Investigated the causes which
had brought the thousands of men to our
federal and state prisons, and he declared
that a shamefully large percentage oil
the men there were brought to it through
their extravagant expenditure OF money
on one or more women. He went further
and stated that this money was not so
much spent in the pleasures that the
men and the women might share IN
travel or entertainment or home luxury,
but rather in the clothes and jewels worn
BY the women, and their extravagant ex-
'penditure of money on their vainglorious
persons
This extravaganza. the statstician de-
clared, was an expression of the woman
of the time, the good woman as we'll as
the woman whose conduct justified the
world in calling her not good. and ne
concluded by an appeal that the women
of America curb their vanity, and learn
more about the value of the things for
which they so careiessly paid money
earned honestly or dishonesty, but gen
erous1y given to them BY the men upon
whom they depended.
Advertisements which make of the de-
partment store on certain floors "barges
of beauty and luxury" appeal to the
imagination as the stories of Cleopatra,
in all her gorgeous raiment, and while
the breakfast dishes are still unwashed
and the servant has not been given or
ders for the days work, the woman, the
head of the business of the house, has
gone down town, that she may get the
first grab at the barge.
On this counter. near the top, like the
good Strawberries that make the top
layer in the first spring boxes, are
| number of gorgeous silks being sold
| really for half price. But underneath
this top layer sometimes are other silks
which are not worth even the bargain
price. They have good color. however,
| and even mixed with these inferior silks
are patterns of the real thing. The wo-
| men. all excitement, are gathered. a
| we'll known woman finds wonderful
pattern in blue brocade. Worth 900
yard she gets it for 50 cents. The news
| goes down the counter.
| In her enthusiasm she tells the good
news, grabs piece of pink brocade near
| by and urges her friend and neighbor;
| Get this it is a wonderful bargain-like
mine. only pink" The neighbor sees the
color; sees it is brocade; knows her
friend has judgment, and without stop
ping to scrutinize the quality, the tex
ture, she grabs the pattern in pink before
the woman next to her can, and her pur-
| chase is made. Now the blue brocade
is bargain, but the pink piece was a
trick of the trade; it was only worth %
lcents; it was not the texture of the blue
lbrocade, but was placed near it, and in
Tits reflected glory.
Now the woman who bought this piece
of silk did not need it, even If 1t had
lbeen the right thing. She had PINK
evening gown; and by the time she had
1.-THE new one made with lace, etc, 1t VIII
cost as much as material worth while.
lThen in the end 1t would look ike hoth-
ling but a cheap gown 1t is not nice
enough for the real brilliant entertain
tment; it is too dressy for just an even
ing at home, and the worst about that
dress is, it cost the purchaser some
Things she really needed.