The Ely miner., 1911-03-10
HER LINEN
SUIT


suddenly in July of last year. She
went downtown to get ready-made
| lightweight tailor suit Her husband s
parting words, like the parting words
of all good husbands in like situa-
tions, had been: Now, get something
| good, Margaret, something worth
while. Don't try to economical"
But every woman will understand
how Mrs. Beach, when passing win
dow, saw a pink linen coat and skirt
marked down to SIS, she fell vic
tim. 1t was of excellent cut and
much reduced from its original cost.
1t was sufficiently heavy for summer
wear Therefore it seemed foolish
to her to spend $40 or more for a
cloth suit So she bought the pink
linen.
Beach's expression was one Of down
right disgust when she showed her
purchase to him. Il told you to get
something good" he objected. "And
you come home with that"
Now, Henry!' said his wife. IF
that isn't the man of it! If had told
you l paid $50 for the suit instead of
SIS you would have thought 1t was
lovely! That's all man knows about
the value of things-he just judges
by the cost! And you don't seem to
appreciate my economy"
You'll be sorry you bought linen
suit!" insisted Beach, stubbornly.
"You mark my words!"
These being his sentiments, Mrs.
Beach never told him how one week
after her arrival at her hostess she
got automobile grease on her suit and
had to have it dry cleaned at cost
of $150. The first time she wore 1t
after that the sun faded 1t fearfully
and in streaks.
ut must be due to something they
used in cleaning it," condoled her
hostess. You can have 1t dipped,
though"
So Mrs Beach had the linen suit
colored it's original rose pink. That
cost her $3.50. She wore 1t in fear
and trembling thereafter. Before she
returned home she had 1t cleaned
again. She wanted Beach to see that
1t had worn well and was in perfect
order. Mrs. Beach was in the posi-
ton of one keeping up a front before
the world. Not for anything would
she let Henry Beach know that little
doubts and regrets were beginning to
assail her. She felt that she loathed
the pink linen suit. but she had to
dissemble. When fall came and she
could lay it aside with good grace she
heaved sigh Of relief.
This summer when she got the suit
out again she found 1t was all streaked
from lying packed away. She was sur
vey1ng 1t In tears when her best
friend called.
my goodness!" said the best friend
That's nothing! Just boil it out
white! You can do it as easy as not
If you put cream of tartar in the
water!"
Hope once more sprung up in Mrs.
Beach's breast. The fatal suit was
put into the wash boiler and boiled.
For some reason it refused to fade
out nicely. 1t was white In some
places and then it shaded into dis
couraging hints of pink Unexpectedly
around hens and edges.
Setting her teeth, Mrs. Beach car.
ried the suit to a cleaning and dyeing
establishment and told her troubles.
"H'h!" said the cleaning and dyeing
man. "Of course, madam, we could
fade that out for you a perfect white
nothing is impossible to us with our
superior methods-but why not dye
it? A pretty blue, for instance? Blue
is very stylish this summer and"
"All right" said Mrs. Beach, catch
ing desperately at the suggestion,
Dye 1t blue. Maybe that would be
better than having it white, because
it went get soiled so easily''
''It will be two-fifty," said the man
blandly. Thank you!'
The suit really looked quite nice
when it came home. Mrs. Beach
showed it to her husband in a little
triumph. "You see, it was good linen
to start with" she told him. "It's just
like another new suit this year-and
all for $15!"
BY September l Mrs. Beach had had
the suit dipped" twice again and
cleaned once. Even though it took
her last penny she would not admit
to Henry Beach that the suit was a
hoodoo. To keep it looking nice be-
came mania with her.
The other day she took pencil and
began figuring and discovered that be-
sides the original cost of the suit she
had spent exactly $14.50 in dyeing and
cleaning and dipping. And then there
was the mental strain besides.
Mrs. Beach has given the suit away
to her laundress and at present is ne
gotiating for the making of a new
broadcloth suit at $95 She thinks 1t
will be cheaper In the end.