South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-05-27
SuperfluouS WrappingS.
Rv Lucille Caine.

cardboard receptacle, do we permit
ourselves 10 be detained while the
storekeeper, with slow, deliberate
movements. envelops it in an outer
garment of paper and Irvine?
From out a dust proof showcase
the druggist brings a glistening cyl
inder. We pay the price demanded.
and seldom dream of asking that the
cap be removed from the cylinder in
order 10 satisfy US that IL contains
the particular brand of tooth paste.
face powder or what-nOt desired;
but we make no move toward put
ting il into our muff or coat pocket.
We could carry it. or any one Of
scores of our daily purchases, openly
in our hand without betraying its
nature TO our fellow beings, but ex-
perience has taught the seller we
have no intention ~ accepting 1t IN
its naked state. He tears from "A
roll of paper a sheet sufficiently long
TO hide the indecency of our puT-
chase from the public eye, and if,
as is often the case. he happens TO
be an prescriptions individual,
encircles the article latitudinally
with pink cord.
The process is often slow, and irk-
some alike to purveyor and custom
er. but the former generally man
ages to preserve a bland smile-may
even hazard a genial remark about
the weather--and the latter strives
to hide his or her impotence by a
cursory examination of such NOV
able bits of merchandise as lie with
in reach. To neither party of the
transaction seems TO occur the nat
ural suggestion: why not cut out
this superfuous wrapping business" g?
OF course, the present shortage of
paper, of which everybody has
heard. could De made the basis of an
attack upon the superfuous wrapper
nuisance, on the broad ground Of
national economy and conservation
of resources. A slogan like that
might rally millions of women he
sides those of the stOrekeepers
families to its support, but the aim
of this article is not to achieve a
reform, but merely to obtain a re-
lief.
Were the squares Of white and
brown paper which we daily drag
into our homes on returning from
shopping expeditions, generally Of
such dimensions that we could util
ize them for outgoing parcels in our
administrations to the needs of the
poor, or our bestowaI of treasure
upon friends through the medium
Of parcel post, the situation would
be different Doubtless then we
would not worry about an added
and unnecessary expense TO shop
keepers.
But what IS one to do with the
attentuated scraps of paper with
which merchants are pleased to sur
round already beautifully sealed
little boxes of crackers, neatly
housed incandescent burners, cakes
of soap, more tidily done up in the
factory than they can ever do them
up in their stores; four-by-six inch
boxes of spool cotton; two and a
half pound bags of sugar (surely
ness from our neighbors); bottles
of ink (no outer coat of paper can
protect us from besmearing should
they break small books which we
mean 10 read the moment we get
home. and perhaps before; hermet-
ically sealed tins Of fruit, and a hun
dred other articles one can brins
to mind?
All such wrapping. and much that
is used on larger packages, must Of
necessity become mere litter in the
house 1t overflows the scrap bas-
kets; il messes bureau drawers; il
adds TO woman's work.
And it is not alone the paper that
is a cause of future vexatiOns; those
aggravating bits of string we are
obliged TO cut or unite do their full
part.
Why short and therefore worth
less bits Of string have more fuzzy
coats than other strings may he left
for some one else to explain We
know that they do. We have tried
to sweep them from rugs and car
pets We have attempted 10 effect
their docile entrance into the jaws
OF scrap baskets. Ii can't be done
They viii cling 70 the upper rim Of
that receptacle as a drowning man
clinss 10 a plank; they will. in a
caterpillar sort Of way. crawl into
the interstices of the wicker and re-
main there sometimes with an OBJ
stinacy that only the sharp end of a
knitting needle can sUbdue.
Added TO these disconcerting
habits Of strings is the danger Of q
woman becoming addicted 10 the
passion of trying 20 save and render
them useful. Very likely it was the
custom-of her frugal grandmother
who couldn't bear TO see anything
go 10 waste. But let her take warn
ing in time, for strings. when thrown
into cupboard or drawer for future
use. have a way OF winding them
selves into the affections of cork
screws. tack hammers, can-openers.
garden shears, gimlets, and fiatiron
holders. so that any attempt 10 re-
move them brings on "A rafting
raucous chorus OF protest from the
entire community
The superfiuous- wrapping plague
must be abated