1 88 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



ECONOMY IN RIDING DRESS. 



To economise well is a great art, and unfortunately very 

 few persons understand it. The public mind wavers as a rule 

 between two views of the matter — excessive parsimony, or 

 continual hunting after cheap things. When I say " cheap," 

 I mean low-priced ; for brummagem articles, no matter of 

 what description, are always the very reverse of cheap. " I 

 have got such a bargain," says one dear friend to another, 

 displaying some trumpery thing which would have been 

 dear at half the price given for it ; and away goes the 

 friend and invests in a similar treasure, only to regret her 

 want of wisdom when too late to retract. 



The true secrets of economising are : first never to buy 

 anything that you do not absolutely require ; second, to 

 purchase every article of the very best description ; and 

 third, to take care of your things when you have got them. 

 These three rules will go far if attended to, but, like the 

 Siamese twins, separate them and they will die. A word, 

 then, about each — taking them in rotation as named. 



Buy nothing that you do not want. It is a general 

 weakness with ladies to infringe this rule. They are fond 

 of shopping, and shopmen know it, and pander to the fami- 



