Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1876 — Shopping. [ARTICLE]

Shopping.

The commercial spirit is not peculiar to men only, women, too, being largely impregnated with it. Though the latter }n a general way have not much opportunity of selling in the dearest or any other market, they are constantly showing that they are fond of buying in the cheapest. They are much elated when they have made what they flatter themselves is a good bargain as is an Arab guide when he imagines that he has successfully victimized an English tourist Their love for getting things cheap finds an outcome, much to the delight of a number of enterprising tradesmen, in the feminine occupation of shopping. . . . Now, the ladies go shopping in a perfectly serious fashion, fully persuaded that they are superior to the dodges by which smart tradesmen seek to entrap the unwary. Unlike most men, who, when they go shopping, want a certain article, and therefore start upon their pursuit with a definite purpose, they are unfettered by conditions. Without requiring anything in particular, they feel that they will find a use for a hundred articles, and so they glory in the circumstance that they have a license’to snap up anything which may be cheap or out of the common . Thus situated, it is but natural that they should decline to go to work in the humdrum way of toe man who, standing in need of a coat, enters a tailor’s shop, and in five minutes comes out again, having ordered what he wants. They are above selecting a shawl in five minutes, the task being an important one, which, in their opinion, must be performed without haste and with due solemnity. Thus, when they see a certain shawl which takes their fancy, they do not, as an inefficient male shopper would do, cry out: “There, that will Just suit. ” They are superior to falling into toe folly of such precipitancy. They have come to see the greater portion ol the mercer's stock, and they will do so, though they are perfectly assured jthat they will return to the particular' shawl which has taken their tanoy, and which, with a view of deteriorating it in the eyes of the shopman, and thereby getting it a little cheaper than they might otherwise do, they have spoken of with well-feigned indifference. The assumption is that they experience a sweet joy when they see a shopman disarranging his stock, and putting it apparently into a state of hopeless confusion, perspiring profusely, and looking unhappy meanwhile for their delectation. Nor do they shrink from telling the miserable man at times—and this is the crowning part of the glory of their proceed they will think about the matter, and perhaps purchase upon some future occasion. The innocent smiie which plays upon their lips as they depart should be sufficient consolation to the shopman for what he

has suffered. It must not be understood that he is disheartened, though his temper may be sorely tried by this sort of thing. He is aware that in nine cases out of ten his victim will come back, and that he will be able to revenge himself upon her, notwithstanding her cleverness. It has been said that the shopping lady does not work upon a system. Having resolved that she will do a day’s shopping, she sallies aimlessly forth, determined upon ond point, however—to have a good rummage through mordthan one establishment. So she wanders up and down her pet street and scrutinizes the windows of her pet shops, sniffing at the price of thft, and declaring that the price of the other -is cheap. -Having taken a. general birds-eye view of toe state of the

battlefield,- she attacks the..enemy—in other .words, she enters a shop. “ What can they show her?” is the query which the saponaceous human ornament of the establishment puts to her. Her reply is Somewhat vague, but it leaks out that they” can snow her a great many things and this is done. One by one “sweet things,” “ths greatest bargains ever offered, ” and the latest novelties,” are laid before her admiring gaze. Then some “ sweet thing”—which she does not want —inspires her with a feeling of admiration, which is fermented by the wiles of the crafty shopman. “It Is nice.” she says, longingly, “and so cheap,” urges her tempter; “it would look well,” she murmurs, “and it would suit you so beautifully," echoes the cunning one ,- “ she really will think about buying it some other time,” she says, hesitatingly, but she will never have such a chance again, suggests Mephistophiles. So the matter ends by her buying the “ sweet thing" at a price at which the tradesman is really ashamed to sell it, and she takes her departure in a state of triumphant delight. The Bhopman, notwithstanding her extreme cleverness, bows her to the door with charming urbanity, and longs for another such customer. The transaction, however, does not satisfy her ardent nature, and she resumes her perambulations with the result that here she buys a gimcrack, there a mantle—unhappily at a ruinous cost, as •ven'sbe has to confess—which will put that of her rival, Mrs. Brown, quite into the shade, and so on. It should be noted that notwithstanding her mania for getting things cheap, as she is perfectly weU assured that certain mines cannot be unless they coat a certain, figurq, so she often declines to things unless

they are charged tbs price commensitaate with their grandeu!-. Fortunately, shopkeepers generally are able to accommodate her In tills little matter, and are hind enough to give a practical eftact to their appreciation of the fact that she cannot hope to eclipse Mrs. Smith* five-guinea bonnet except with a work of art which has cost half as much again as (hat sum. Gathering her bargains and “sweet things” together, the shopping lady goes home and there awaits her husband. To him she shows her-treasures-and admiringly invites his approval. That she often fails to get it Is jierhaps due more to weakness than the depravity of human nature. Possibly, if he liked parting with Ills money as touch as he loves getting it,, lie would not look with disgust upon the trumpery and expensive articles which a cunning shopkeeper has foisted upon her: but as it is he heaves many a sigh, and occasionally says things which are not conducive to connubial, bliss. Knowing his weakness, she sometimes prudently declines to let him into the secret of the frill extent of her transactions, and occasionally, in order that her talents may not be Checked through paucity of resource, she manipulates the aomestic finances in such a marvelous manner (hat though he becomes annoyed he is so mystified that he cannot find ground for reasonable complaint. He is, however, led to regard gloomily the extraordinary cost of mere living. Perhaps his wile’s abilities at last prove too much for him and he has to compound with his creditors and see auctioneers in possession of his house. Then does his wife declare that there never was a man so stupid at business as he, and his friends avow that he has brought his trouble upon his own head. Thus domestic peace ta Often incompatible with “ shopping.” Those ladies who are continually bewailing because their tyrannical lords have “ such horrible tempers” might advantageously condescend to learn a lesson from this fact .—Liberal Review.