THE "EARLY BIRDS."

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 148, 23 June 1906, Page 11

THE "EARLY BIRDS."

Nowadays in Sydney, in tho early trains and on the early boats, which used to carry only business men and girl typewriters to their work i^ the city, one meets numbers of well-Known and well-to-do matrons (writes "Gratia" in the Australasian). The men at first looked up from their morning papers in amazement, and wondered what Lady A., Madama X., and Mrs. L could be doing out at this hour. "Had Lady A. taken a florist's business?" "Surely L. would not allow his wife to work in an office?" "Or wero they alter cooking, dressmaking, or wood-carving les sons, these Indies — one could never tell what fad would take hold of a woman next!" Such ideas as these filtered through the men's heads. But they solved tho problem pretty soon' by asking their female relatives what it all meant (men aro slightly inquisitive, you know). The matrons were going to th© "nine to ten" sale of bargains, that was it assuredly. This new idsa for attracting women to tho counters is caxching on in Sydney, and by 9 o'clock they are standing outside the shop doors waiting to make a rush for the department where tho bargains — ironmongery, haberdashery, and all sorts, of articles are 6et out and may be procured by tho quick and ready for exactly haff tho marked price. But you must bo quick, and you must be ready to make up your mind, for the titbits aro soon snapped up Assistants from all departments aro sent up to "the bargain counters," and a right busy time they have, for thrifty matrons gather there in immense numbers, and attending to j half a dozen at once, while keeping them all good-tempered, is not easy. From 9 to 10 th© scene is most animated. At 10 precisely a gong sounds, the lovely bargains that remain (if any) aro covered up with calico, and out you must all Eack, willy-nilly. Now is the time the arrest is reaped. For, finding it is only fivo past 10, th© whole day before them, and "nothing particular to go home for," the ladies march ronnd the various departments downstairs, buying this and tliat desirable article, finding shopping at their leisure a "mighty pleasant" way of passing the time. Tho hour set for the new form of bargain sale is a very 'cut© stroko of business!

Twenty of tho workgirls of a man milliner ip Paris sued him for having kissed them. Tho Court inflicted themxaimum penalty of 12s for every kiss bestowed on each girl. Bo had to pay £15. The Chinese Board of Education, in order to put a stop to the practices of binding women's feet, has issued, says a Laffan's message from Pekin, an order prohibiting tho sale of small shoes. A Bond-strcofc specialist has drawn up a table which shows the probable effect of various outdoor pastimes on a girl's appearance-: — Boating bums or freckles the skin; cycling enlarges fecb and hands ; cricket will ruin tho prettiest figure; hockey ruins figure and complexion ; lawn tennis the- least harmful of sports, but may enlarge right shoulder and hand; motoring coarsens the , skin and reddens the nosg,