Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

12 H IIKARST'S SUNDAY AMERICAN, ATLANTA, GA., SUNDAY. APRIL 27. 1913. My Experiences In Shopland I Start Out. One bright summer morn ing I awoke with the con sciousness of a long, varied shopping list that must be filled before sundown, if I were to preserve my peace of mind. I had postponed shopping be yond the usual period of pro crastination. because I had had *so many duties that seemed to preclude a shopping day. But I made up my mind that I would not look at this neces sary duty as a hardship, but 'would set my wits to work at a ■pleasant solution of this shop- l , ping problem. I dressed with care and meditated the while how I was to turn a dread into a joy. The weather was in my \ favor. I would walk down -town and gain the benefit of i the bright day. the public refined cabaret every night. First, I Decided to Lunch. The idea of a dainty, whole some midday lunch seemed to bg connected with the Dene- chaud Cafe, at 9 Walton Street. Here I found a verita ble haven of delight. The green lattice-work of the walls and eeiling gave a eool sum mery rtfeet that was in perfect keeping with the beautifully gowned women that thronged the place. In the center of the —“I like to call it garden”— an artistic fountain added its charm to the picture. Hun dreds of canaries contributed their song to the soft hum of conversation that pervaded the scene. An orchestra of real merit simply canned one away, and the fundamental ob ject of my visit, the food— well, from delightful soup to the daintiest of French pas tries. I simply enjoyed myself like a hungry child. Later. I heard that starting next Mon day th' Deneehand would offer I Enter the Attractive Shop I Espied. There is no woman living who can withstand the appeal of dainty dishes. It is part of our feminine heritage, and we have never tried to over come it. The home is the foundation of the State and the table is the foundation of the home. You may judge a family by the table at which it sits three times a day, and which carries its influence out into the world. For, are wo not told that our eating must be a joy ous affair, accompanied by good nature, or else it fails in half its purpose? How any one can pretend to be happy at a tabic with a motley array of dishes, which repulse the sight before the appetite can he tempted, is beyond my un derstanding. Pretty dishes, then, are the foundation of a happy, contented home. Dobbs & Wey, on North Pryor Street, have so many pretty dishes that I could hardly resist the display. The arrangement of the .store is unusual. There is a series of little booths or buffets along each side with dishes of cer tain style, price and quality confined within the limits of tin 1 section, ft is like going into the dining room of a beau- tifillly appointed house just tf step into one of these display sections. Reueath arc drawers containing samples of the many, many different dishes. First, drawers of bread and butter plates, all on a line; then luncheon plates, dinner plates, etc. The nicety of the arrangement makes a strong appeal to the housekeeping in stinct. I gazed with something akin I Turn Shopping Into A Day of Pleasure to love at the magnificent ex amples of the finest imported china. The familiar Coalport, Royal Meissen, Royal Worces ter, Doulton, Haviland, Guerin and- Pouyat were displayed in fascinating elegance. I could see, too, that this love had not begun with me. The love had been put into each piece by the artists who had produced it. Each little flower, each gold tracing gave evidence of com pelling love that gave the woman, and through her the world, an exquisite piece of china. The cut glass, which nothing can equal in brilliancy and purity, almost startled me into observation. The hundreds of pieces, each of 'beautiful line and decoration, made a display of undeniable interest. I was shown an interesting piece of glass which showed the effect of the principal operations and fully demonstrated to me that a. piece of cut glass had a strong artistic value be yond the fascination it holds for the majority of women. Booths of cheaper china and of the welcome open stock fine china made it possible for even the woman of limited means to provide her table with pretty china. I saw a re production of the famous In dian Tree design in a very moderately priced china, and was held entranced by a cheer ful peasant design. For the collector and china lover there are beautiful pieces of Japanese china, Venetian glass, bronze, brass and every form of lovely vase that is pro duced by the different schools of ceramic art. A whole day spent in this art store would not he wasted. As a delightful accompani ment to the lovely dishes are the pleasant manners of the men in charge. Specialists of 25 years’ experience, you may well trust, their word and real ize that in selecting their china they arc shopping for the wom en of Atlanta in every por tion of the world. They bring the works of art home for At lanta ‘s tables. I Find Shoes I Like. *• It pleases us to please you.” This seemed to be the essence of the very atmosphere of the popular Whitehall Street shoe store, R. C. Black, which means that my purchase there was something more than a mere cash transaction. If left to my own judgment I would have selected the very first pair of Continental-stay-on- pumps that the clerk showed trie. But the gentleman would not hear of it. No, indeed, my foot required something of different size and shape. ‘‘But it feels fine!” I exclaim ed. Still he overruled my de sires and finally fitted me with a shoe that he considered a perfect 'fit. I was simply de lighted; no glove ever fitted or felt better than that pair of scientifically fitted pumps. It gradually dawned upon me that a woman's foot is one of her most valued possessions and always should he encased in leather that has been fitted to it by experienced and con scientious salesmen. 1 left this shop with a general good will toward humanity. I Visit a Jewelry Shop. Within sight of Five Points and just a few steps from The American’s office I discovered the Durham Jewelry Company at 20 Edgewood Avenue. Once inside, 1 knew that my pocket- book would be smaller and my list shortened before I emerged •from its atmosphere of splen dor. 1 was very careful with my expressed admiration at first, for I had reason to think that many of the lovely things were beyond my allowance. But soon 1 was able to plunge into all the ecstasies I wished, for 1 saw that 1 could make many purchases without fear of ex travagance. A beautiful little Lavalliere for Hannah’s anniversary. My gaze went farther and could not resist the handsomest lamp I have ever seen. It was of the daintiest cut glass, and when lighted the beautiful bowl was illumined as well as the shade. I bought that lamp, for it was too beautiful to lose. 1 was able here to replenish my stock of “several other items.” I asked Mr. Durham why it was that they could sell such exquisite things for such ridic ulously I o w p rice s. He claimed that comparatively small expense and his own buy ing system made it possible. It was with a real feeling of re gret that 1 finally left this unique and delightful shop. An Up to Date Shop. While on Edgewood Avenue a window of unusual bright ness and attractiveness caught my eye and straightway I en tered the Balding Jewelry Company. The shop itself was a clean, fresh, wholesome place and the beautiful display of unique and artistic jewel-ware in the long eases still further carried out the idea of attrac tiveness shown in the window. 1 feasted my eyes on the hat pins, vanity boxes in a hundred different/styles with many nov el apartments in them, watches, barpins, rings, La- vallieres. pendants, etc. In fact I simply couldn’t turn away from the glittering ar ray. While in this shop 1 could not help noticing the constant stream of smiling customers who each and everyone greet ed Mr. Balding with some friendly salutation. All friends as well as customers. I went away feeling that in prices, location, stock, and courteous treatment the Bald ing Jewelry Company was sec ond to none in the South. A Vision of White and Gold. One of my friends has al ways been loud in her praise of the Rich-Cordon China Dec orators at 172% Peachtree. I had decided to visit their stu dio and see for myself. I did, and never will I regret the mounting of a few steps to get there either. . Hours slipped by and I found myself going from one beautiful piece of chi na to another, each more dain ty and exquisite than the one before. 1 found tables of beau tiful white ami gold china with delicate flower-like mono grams. ready to send out as gifts, ready to beautify the ta ble of some May bride. And was there ever a more suitable gift for a bride than these unique and artistic pieces of china enhanced with gold. I know that every visitor to this studio will not only find de light in the actual wares, but will spend a large part of their time in watching Mr. Cordon as he skillfully turns a pure white piece into a veritable flower with his brush. Finally 1 had to leave, but not without a sigh of regret and a purchase that is large for a little wo man. . I Enter Fairyland And Am Enchanted. With the improvement of my inhospitable guest room in mind. I sought for some new lighting fixtures to provide a welcome that words alone could not convey. When I step ped inside the pretty store, which a sign announced as the Queen Mantel & Tile Compa ny, 56 W. Mitchell Street, I began to think 4hat my task was to be more difficult than I had preconceived. Each chandelier I noticed suggested a suitable place in my own or some friend's house. One in mission style would be just the thing to re place the garish one that now had the opportunity of show ing how miserably it failed both practically and artistical ly. The colonial chandelier in silver finish with showers of dainty glass bowls, astral cut. would make Hannah's colonial living room a complete picture. The little windmills and geese By EVELYN WREN on the shades of another show er of lights made me think of Hannah’s kiddies and their nursery. Of course 1 ordered one chandelier sent home and two sidelights to match. It gave me the color scheme for my re furnished guest room. The chandelier was of hand- hammered iron, with gold or namentation. The delightful little showers were iridescent, green and gold. The green gave a most restful effect. The shades were .just delicately tinted with a graceful, conventional leaf de sign that would lead my wel comed guest to think of days when the rays of sunshine peeping through the trees brought peaceful repose. The mantels — Colonial, Flanders, Mission, Dutch and Cottage styles^—were in the large, clean, spacious store room overhead. 1 did not wish to disgrace myself, but when I saw the Dutch mantel with the familiar figures of Hansel and Gretel I felt like clapping my hands. My delight in the pure Colonial types, the beau tiful tnahogam mantels that pleased the eye in every line; mv pleasure in the quiet dig nity of the dark oak mantel* with hand-tooled Spanish leather panel, was increased by the discovery that the cour teous gentleman -who had ob served it was himself an artist and connoisseur. He did not tell me that; he was far too modest. I asked Mr. Harris if he had any objection to sending his mantel catalogue to several of my friends who contemplated building or remodeling their houses. He reassured me that to help and advise home build ers was his special work. I felt confident that my friends would have the value of a man who loved his work and made of it an art. I could not pass the andirons without a longing glance. I began mentally to place them before the fireplace with an eye to appropriateness. Two love ly tile mantels—Feiance tile, I think they were; one in a dark peacock blue; the other in what I called a dark amber —I fitted with graceful Colon ial andirons in brass. This de lightful task begun, I hated to go on. but knew I must. I Enter a Beauty Parlor. Finding myself quite dis heveled by my walk through the crowded shops, I was naturally attracted to the Twenty-Five-Gent Hairdress ing Parlors at 70 12 Peach tree Street, over the A., B. &. A. ticket office. Here I found an tip-to-date, in fact truly metropolitan, establishment. Every modern convenience and appliance plainly showed itself. The clean, wholesome booths with their sanitary appearance were delightfully inviting, and with a beautiful and absolutely experienced and competent attendant, I gave myself up to a pleasing course of massages, manicur ing, hair dressing and the like. An hour passed like a minute, and feeling quite re freshed and flattered, 1 must say, by my appearance, 1 pre pared to leave. I could not help noticing the number of children that particular moth ers had brought to this shop, and the wonderful way the little ones were served. So gathering my things together, and with a word of sincere thanks and appreciation to my attendant, I departed, but with a knowledge that some day soon I would certainly return. Scherrer’s Attracts Me. While standing on Peach tree Street waiting for a friend, I noticed hundreds of people, busy business men and women, pouring into Sherrer's Quick Lunch Room. Here the very atmosphere was full of cleanliness, and the rapidity with which people were served was truly marvelous. I un derstand that this day was no exception, and that every day in the week presents the same busy, happy throng in this popular resort. I had al ready had lunch, but was tempted to enter Sherrer’s, as much to mingle with the laughing crowd as to taste the numerous smoking dishes. I Delightfully End My Happy Journey. Thp sun was warning me that my day of surprises was nearly done. The shop doors were gradually closing. The shades were being lowered and homeward the tired shop pers wended their way. I was not nearly so tired as they and was unwilling to end my day so soon, but looked about for a final visit—a suitable cli max to a happy, successful day. When I went to the ticket window of the Alamo I knew that I had made a good de cision. When I went in and sat in one of the onmfortable seats and prepared to relax and rest. 1 was positive that my time would be well spent. The films jvere good. 1 be came as innocently interested as tlu> dear little girl who sat in front and was enjoying the sight of baby chicks in a farm yard scene. The little fuzzy balls were so fascinating that I did not wonder that she asked hpr mother in whispers if she might have one to take home. After the little pastoral pictures came a film of whole some fun. No one was hurt. there was no suggestion of mean pranks or ill temper, and 1 could join in the laugh ter freely. As I sat there I thought of the valuable part the moving pictures have played in the moral and educational uplift of the modern young Amer ican. No longer does the growing boy seek burlesque houses and sensational melo drama. He patronizes the nickel show and takes away a wholesome remembrance. Especially is this true to-day when the National Board of Censorship passes on all films and prohibits any that might be unpleasant or of doubtful desirability. 1 must admit that this was by no means the first time that I had visited this theater. The quality of the films is so good and the management, is so watchful lest anything in the least objectionable or dis agreeable creep in that 1 had grown to look forward to a little rest here as a customary thing. Mothers can feel abso lutely secure about sending their children unattended to this pleasant little theater, for the management exercises the severest caution for the pro tection of its patrons. The little family group which had entered just before me proved the value of this theater as a cheap and neces sary recreation for those of very moderate income. The little mother's efforts to have •her group of happy, antici pating children ready for this treat were almost pathetically evident. It meant a day of happiness in looking forward to the “show” and a day of well-behaved children in con sequence. The tired mother had the pleasure of enjoying a pleasant, hour of rest and of maternal joy in the observa tion of her children’s delight. It meant something to tell father about when they went home; it meant a dancing, enthusiastic little crowd ol babies to run to meet him at the gate that evening. It meant the father's beaming face as he listened to the stories of the films. It meant a tired, joyful, sleepy-eyed band of slumber tots that took their good-night tucks and kisses with a smile as they asked: “May we go again, mamma?” Was it not worth while? I had almost lost myself in reverie while looking at the pictures, but here I had to stop. T heard Billy Beard, lie sang so well and with such originality that I was forced to devote iny whole attention to him. Well, I had had a happy day and the ending was ap propriate to the tour of de light I had undertaken with enthusiasm in the early morn ing. I felt contented and rested by the thought thaT had been a successful- day in which I had had new experi ences and added to my hum ble store of knowledge whil- performing a necessary duD.