She gave the store clerk the list to fill and proceeded to look over some new
dress goods that had just arrived.
He gave up a budding career in the
dress goods business in Chicago where he had been employed in the famous Marshall, Field & Company department store, Upon moving west, Ben's first job was as an advertising agent for a New Mexico company, and he then served as representative for a Chicago store.
I wish you might know what I have deprived myself of--in the way of all temptation to spend money & keep up appearances I have submitted to be thought mean--I have bought nothing but what was a great necessity & am indebted to the kindness of my folks for a very great deal that otherwise would have been an expense." (78) The "temptations" of a wide variety of fabrics and
dress goods that could not be obtained in frontier Minnesota frustrated Katherine, but to "be thought mean" or miserly hurt her even more.
"This idea would work well with a display of wash
dress goods," the writer added, "but it would also look well with black goods or others lines."(11)