The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-26
Slightly Worn Garments Belonging to
Rich Society Women Find Real
Market at Second Hand
Store for Shop Girl.
GOODS ARE EXCLUSIVE
Only the Best Articles sre Bareained
for by SaIeslady Who Later
Sells Them to an Eager
Customer.

"hSu you see AuHa, WHO TuHS q
heeling at the shoe factory gaily be-
decked in flossy gown or a finely
tailored suit, don't, as most persons
do, surmise Anna is extravagant and
one of the needless who ignore war
savings stamps to buy clothes
For, most likely. the clothes Anna
wears are those cast off by Mrs.
Richfeller, of Portland Place, and
Anna has bought them for the pro-
verbal song at the Society Wardrobe
Exchange, observes the st. Louis
Times.
Miss Irma Biebeinger runs the So
ciety Wardrobe Exchange, and says
she thinks she is doing everybody n
good turn by it.
Clothes that are only slightly worn
or unsatisfactory are turned over 10
me by rich women in town, sell
them to girls and women in medium
circumstances, who appreciate the OPP
portunity to obtain good quality at
less than downtown stores charge,
and / make small profit myself"
she explains.
Miss Biebinger's venture might be
classed as an exclusive secondhand
shop. oh, yes. indeed, it is exclusive.
The policy followed is that Of not
taking clothes from anyone with
whom Miss Biebinger is unacquaint-
ed personally or who is not recon-
mended to her.
''In that way" she says, 'I get only
the best clothes. Also / never take
clothes that are not clean"
If things are sent to her which do
not measure UP to her standards, she
- II
but sends them back Here she
pointed to pile of boxes containing
such outcasts, And, opening a draw
er, she pulled out white wool sweat
er, handsome-but slightly moth
eaten.
II wouldn't even try to sell that 1t
came from very rich woman, but
she wore 1t too long to suit my pa
irons"
There are other rules which the
manager Of this establishment adj
heres to so that her customers may
feel unembarrassed in buying gar
ments which some one else has worn
and discarded.
mo one, not even my helper,
knows where the things come from"
she explained. "And the customers
ucNeT hAOW WHO DuyS IuelT ClOlueS.
A knock at the door told there was
customer outside.
Miss Biebinger," said the woman
who raped, IT sent over that swim
ming suit without putting on price.
/ want to tell you that since it has
never been worn would want to ask
SIS for It"
The closing sale OF the season had
been held the day before and Miss
Biebinger- had sold the suit for 81.
However, the girl who had bought
it was paying for it on the install
ment plan, and the suit was not yet
out Of the shop. Therefore she told
the woman to send back the check
she had sent to her and that she
would confer with the girl about the
price. - -
Il know that little girl will be I'M
able to pay that much she said after
the owner of the suit had gone. But
never argue about a price. Women
know how much garment is worth
to them, and If they do not care for
it, it is for them to say, They set
their valuation and add my commits
sion If they will not sell at this
price, either take off my commits
sion, if think the girl really needs
the clothes, or I send the garments
back. You see,' nothing is bought
outright. This would mean too large
an outlay of money, and then I would
have to charge more"