Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-30
U,S.SPENDING MORE
MONEY THAN EVER BEFORE
Womcn's Coats Sell for SS5 900
and Stockings for $3.50
a Pair.

New Ork, dec. t1u.-- ne MOUNT OF IN
Is-year-old New York girl who for several
years has kept an account Of the cost OF
her daughters wardrobe, in letter to a
local newspaper, recently complained
about the present prices of clothing, shoes.
gloves. hats. etc. Some interesting figures
On what 1t costs TO outfit young woman
today. rs compared with five years ago,
are afforded by quotations from number
Of average priced local shops as follows:
Shoes-l9l4, S5; 1919, Sl2 to SIS.
Stockings (sIk)-l9l4, 81. to $3.50;
1919, $3.50 and up.
Underwear-1914,S So. so to s.; 1919,
$40 and up.
SIX blo6mcrs 50 SO a pair; 1919,
$3.50 pair
Undervcst 1914. 81 to $50; 1919,
$3.50 To 81
pctticoat silk, 1914. s. 20 s.; 1919,
sl2 to S15.
Waist sgcorgcttel-l9l4. $40 to SIS;
1919. S25 and up go
and up.
Fur ncckpiccc 1911, $50 20 S3o' t'i"'
ZIufT n "Iail4 $50: 1910. 500 and up
GlnycS-tolt. 81 so: 1919, 81 and up.
st76 ~ to $3.50 and up.
The foregoing applies tn what the shop
krrpcrs regard as a moderate ward
rola ScrrJ.s. formerly tho cheapest and
mast common dress material and which,
before tho war. could be bought for 81 tn
81 - 4 ward ar" now retailing at 81 70 s.
for the Same quality. Nelvctcens. another
noplilar dress material, could be bought
1v,. wears ago for 81 and 81 - \ ward, and
nor are bringing 81 80 to s. 30 The
b,cceSt advances dealers say have been
:, cotton and wool and not 50 much III
..lk Babies buckskln shoes which
nrrnally sold at s. 80, are now priced at
$ q 81 pair.
Many women Of means, the retailers
s4v lrc paying as much rs $3.50 and up
r- 3 pair Of silk stockings, hut these are
aaaded with pearls and are decorated
with fine hand embroidery. Tho puhhc
leuqnd for furs. IN spite Of the advance
II 10 to = r,or cent since spring, dealers
say. il 50 ncr cent greater this winter than
LAST season Fur coats costing many
thousands of dollars are more IN evidence
sLsn ever before in New y ork.
IN artist Tor a New ork fashion paper
r,ccrtlv >kctchcd coat, suit and dress
4. 4 local factory. the combined wholesale
nrlcc al which was SOS. The coat,
,aarS, wool fabric, was marked S315, the
.-,,3rrcft, dress nc S215 and the slui At
&s2l Here were three garments which,
sod II retail. would cost the buyer 81
lcs.t 81 800. II was said such instances
II tIfth avenue shops If how the high
cost IF living has lit The r1oh arr by 40
mcans rare. Ono window displays 3 rose
rhi.n blouse for s.. .5a0
utod millions are beng invested N
nIrs this wear bv American womcr SAID
! " Argcnhright. Brooklyn importer,
land the demand IS less exclusive snd
more widespread than ever before, show
lnC that prosperity Il gcncrsi. Coats
costing from $4,000 e SS5,0QO are un-
common. but they are being bought,
"Smprlca II not only importing the
fneg4 Russian sahIes. but i producing
tho best specimens of the black and silver
fax mink. seal. otter. beaver, fisher,
wolyer,oc bear. lynx. badger. skunk rae
e,1p and muskrat All thcSe and many
others. IN hundreds oi varieties from the
rcbeSt 4nd costliest to tho moderately
prlcei. az domestic products.
Reports that wealthy Americans had
representatives abroad bnvlnc up so-called
.rovsI" frrs verc dismissed rs non
s,nSlcal By Mr.. Arcerhrlcht For IS
wears. hl SAID. there had been no such
th1-c ss crown. sahles Fr7nine also
IS less popular than ever IN the history
Of the trade.
1T IS 50 old and mistaken 'dea, he
said. that the finest Russian sabios are
not shIppcd outside II that market, these
skins beng supposed to be the former
Crown Russian sal - In former wears,
when Russian s~.hi,s were not so ex-
rensJye. natives IN tie interior used 70
nav their taxes with pelts In those days
tho cnter1rislng fur collector had not
penetrated the wilds Of the Siberian
forests. II was the custom Of the trappcrs
70 DISPOSE Of their season ; catch - the
Russian government but since sabies
have become - much IN demand and the
9-ioes are 80 hica. the natives have found
thcv can do much better selling directly
Z, the collectors who come from all parts
of A-,ar5ca and Eurarc