South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-09-10
Going Shopping?
The News Times Shoppers
Guide Contains Some Val
liable Suggestions.
Women Should
Make a Study
OF Bargains
BY Sue ID. O'Nym.

| To be able 60 shop intelligently, TO
be able to bring to bear upon the
| problem of selecting materials a sum
| of certain knowledge, increases the
pleasure as we'll as the efficiency Of
the housewife in the pursuit of her
duties. A little certain knowledge
would save bargain hunting from be-
| ing either a joke or a tragedy, into
which il sometimes resolves itself.
A woman too often expects of a
| bargain what il makes no pretenses at
offering. Just as many times a bar
gain is more advantageous than she
realizes.
Take the matter of linens for in
stance Several of the local stores are
| offering them as bargain prices just
now-the best linens that are made.
| There is a reason back Of every sale.
There should be back of these. And
| this is doubtless it:
There are two methods OF bleaching
linens, the grass and the snow. The
grass hleached linen comes onto the
market usually in November or De-
cember. When the merchants make
point of linen sales in the fall the
probability is that they are clearing
their shelves OF stock to make room
for the purchases of early winter.
Material Imported
Most of the material sold as table
linen is imported. There are three
leading supplies-the Irish, Scotch and
German, Austrian and French being
included under the latter. The Irish
is considered the best and is the most
expensive. 1t ranges in price from
10 cents to $500 yard. one mer-
chant is offering five patterns 60-inch
fully bleached Irish linen damask OF
the 10 cent quality for 90 cents.
The German linen runs from 80
cents TO $3.50; the Scotch in the
bleached from so cents to $500. A
fine thread damask may not be a SUI
perior wearing fabric. The weight is
the criterion. The best fabrics are
not too fine. firm but not stiff and
heavy with starch. Those with more
elastic leathery appearance are bet
ter.
The German damask has a closer.
harder twisted thread than the others,
making it very C"rable linen. The
Germans cater Jess to variety of pat
tern and therefore produce less snowy
cloths, but they are very durable ana
therefore less expensive.
In selecting a pattern a medium
size pattern, as the tulip, is very sat
sfactory. 1t is a matter of taste to a
great extent. Large patterns are more
effective thar small but the latter are
good taste. Some patterns are so well
Scotch flower, Irish snOwdrop and
German checkerbOard.
Time is Opportune.
The time is also Opportune for buy
ing floor coverings. Some of the
stores are holding openings in this
department while others are playing
up rugs and carpets in their window
displays. A little knowledge will go a
long way in taking advantage of spe-
Cial prices in carpeting.
OF the different grades ingram, as
everyone knows, is the cheapest 1t
is loosely woven but its wearing quail
tiles are surprising. The only objec-
ton to it is that it is difficult TO Sc
cure pleasing cOlors. Tapestry comes
next in value, resembling Brussels on
the right side, but having canvas
back with colors on one side only.
Brussels carpeting is heavy with
cOlors on both sides. 1t wears excel
lently and generally proves best for
ordinary use. The Brussels carpet
has al uncut pile. Cat pile carpets
are called velvet carpets as the AK
minister and Wilton. The Wiltons wear
admirably and are very satisfactory
in colors and patterns.
Small patterns, sober coloTs and In
definite designs are more artistic,
cheaper and more serviceable than the
opposite. One should endeavOr to Sc
cure a generally pleasing effect in a
carpet so that the room for which it
is designed Will be made attractive
without ones being especially con-
scious through what means the effect
is produced. a carpet with striking
pattern and color which arrests and
holds attention is not pleasing.