Workbasket Trifles

The worfcbasket of the up-to-dat.e womaB of leisure is provided with many costly trifles, the use of which is ïot directly obvious to tho uninitiated, says the New York Tribune. This fact vas recently impressed upon the writer at the counter of a jewelry establishment. A group of women, whose manner and appointment3 indicated that hey were stangers in the city, were ooking at gold thimbles, and, incidentally, at various other articles displayed by the clerk. "Look here, Mary Ellen," said the oldest of the three, holding up to view a flat little square of gold with richly chased edges. "What do you reckon .his is?" "It don't look like anything In par;icular to me," answered Mary Ellen after close serutiny. "Well! It's a winder, and it's worth $9." "Nine dollars for a thread-winder!" exclaimed Mary Ellen, aghast at the dea. "Well! I never! - I always wrap my old scraps of thread or silk round an empty spool or a piece of cardboard, ike the scooped-out piece of wood the boys at home wind their fishing lines on. That's right convenient, though," she added, examining the pretty bauble interestedly. "Here's something else," said thf third woman, balancing between her fingers a pencil-like arrangement exquisitely chased and having a smooth, oval bulb at either end. "I wonder what this is for?" And she glanced appealingly at the clerk. "That's a glove-darner," he explained, much amused at her perplexity. "And how much does it cost?" "Eleven dollars." The trio exclaimed in horror at this revelation of extravagance and Mrs. Mary Ellen remarked sternly that $11 would supply her with loves for two years. All three examined the glove-darner critically, and then, pvirsuing their investigation, speculated in turn as to the merits of the solid-gold thimble-holders, emery-holders, needle-cases and other articles that seemed curious to them. Finnlly, when a finger protector was shown, Mrs. Mary Ellen's patience became exhausted. "These idle women ought to be proud to show a few needle pricks on their forefinger," she exclaimed. "I'd like to know how a little needie prick can hurt." She did not conceal her amazeme that so insigniñcant, everyday affai' as a little round tape-measure cou 1 be contrived to cost $7, and a small ivory case, equipped with tiny gold-handled scissors, needle-case, thimble and bodkin, the value of which was $100, nearly took away her breath. "It seems outrageous to squander so many dollars on nonsense," she declared, energetically, as the party left the shop.