Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1894 — OLD OLO'. [ARTICLE]

OLD OLO'.

New Industry That Promises Good Be--7 . “Have you any children, and would you like to buy some cheap clothing for them?” This came from a voice thatfcame from a huge moving bundle of clothing at the back door the other morning; Here was an innovation in peddlerism. The clothing club man had been around and all the rest of hia ilk, but this was the first of this kind seen. He was invited in and negotiat ions for some of the slock were opened. There were boys’ trousers for seven cenUs. a whole suit fbr fiffeen, and girls’ ruffled frocks for five cents, and various other thing’s for ridiculous low prices. A purchase of twenty-five cents’ worth made a favorable impression bn the bargain man. It neededonly a glance to see that the things were made over from larger garments. With the influence of a cup of coffee and a plate,, of cakes the made-over clothes man Was easily inveigled into telling a short history of the make and origin of this new industry. He had a large family. His wife and four girls, all well grown who could obtain no employment, had made some clothes for a neighbor’s children in the evening. T hissugge st e dane winan us ac t nr i n g and mercantile field. The head of the house who sorted rags in a warehouse, set about making a collection of larger garments of the sort that could be reduced in size. Sometimes he begged them and sometimes he bought them. The garments to be made over are washed before the cutting and sewin-g begins. A pair of trousers’ will make two pairs for a boy 10 or 12 years old. A wrapper or a dress will make four or five dresses for girls from sto 10. The clothes are all well made and clean, and the fit is probably as good as the average. They are primitive in style, perhaps, but what can one expect for a dime? There is no profuse display of buttons. The mother cuts and prepares for the sewing and the girls sew, while the father procures the material and does the selling. Sometimes they net for their week’s work as much as SI 2, spine times more.