Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-10-26
THE MILLINER Y BILL.

The case Of Flynt VS.. Coolidge, OF Boston,
has come to an end, and Mrs. Flynt has YER
dict in her favor after a reduction of the bill
some hundreds of dollars. The appearance Of
the parties and the opening events are describ-
ed as follows, in the Boston Post:
''Here sat Mr.. Flint, the partner of Mrs.
Flynt's joys and sorrows, who spells his name
with an 81" and allows his wife to spell hers
with ''y," and occasionally during the pro-
gress of affairs MIR. Coolidge, who maintained
throughout the most imperturbable gravity.
Mrs. Coolidge was not present, for some rea-
son or other. She will probably, however,
make her appearance before the case is con-
cluded, but not until called for Mrs. Flynt,
though, was on hand from the time the Court
came in, with bevy Of the girls who were
employed by her to work upon the very elabo-
rate and recherche dresses in question, and
looked confident and smiling, but perhaps a
little worn from going through the summer
campaign. She was attired in a nearly plain
dress, a black Hermann skirt, with simple,
uncomplcated black silk sack, cut a la mode,
and finished, as might be expected, in her in
comparable style, and held her own with adj
mirable complacency. Taken all in all, Mrs.
Flynt would not be considered a votary of
fashion, which is, of course, to say in her
yesterdays appearance. But whatever at
taches here, as talker Mrs. Flynt is sharp,
agreeable and nOnchalant.
In opening the case, Mr.. Howes presented
to the jury copies of the bill, of which there are
just eighty items, amounting in all to Sl,9ll
IL, of which the following will give general
idea
Repairing green dress, &C., IA 90
Making lace overskirt and fichu and
material, SO so
Robe for morning dress, $25, making
s25. &C., 55l7
Making black silk dress and trimmings
$50, Al yards thread lace S43 33,
g yards narrow lace S23 33, ID
yards black satin, SIS, &C., IA 20
Making black silk suit S45, trim
mings Sl57 so, l64 yards black silk
STAG O5, 81 yards satin SOL %, &C., 4l3 20
e., and material, 22s So
Making blue cambria suit 50 IS
Making seersucker suit and trimming,
$50, and materials, 81 81
Making purple silk, S37; trimming,
Sl35; pinking, SIS IS; 10 yards pur-
pie silk, $72; 10 yards striped silk,
s33 20, &C., 800 SO
Re-trimming sack, SOS, and material, l02 %
Making Hermann suit, S45; trimming
Sl7S 33; l2i Hermann, 500; two
yards tea rose silk, $50, &C., 500 SO
Making white pique suit, $50 trimming,
S35; 22s yards cluny insertion, 1874
so, &C., 90 II
Flowers for hoop skirt, 1870
Total, $l,9ll IL
Mrs. Flynt is soon put upon the stand and
sworn. trunkis brought into the court,
and numerous articles of wearing apparel pro-
duced therefrom and laid about convenient
for inspection. The first matter taken up
was the morning dress, which cost $55.l7.
This was a most elaborate and intricate affair.
First, Mrs. Flynt had to buy the robe to make
it out of, and then cut it up. To do this re-
quired an adaptation, skill and peculiar
artistic manipulation of which few are poss-
essed. The amount of labor required was ex-
traordnary, and the most assiduous personal
attention being continually demanded from
Mrs. Flynt, Sci Mrs. Flynt, showed the jury
all about it. In the next item the four and
one-third yards of thread lace were gone
throughswith; this was very rare and Gu
rious pattern, and accordingly very costly.
The price of it depended upon the fineness Of
the pattern and the quantity in the market; it
was never cheap. Beside, what increased the
cost of this dress particularly was the
fact that it was shotted. Lewis n. Tuck
er, an expert, swore that the lace was the best
Brussels, worth eight or nine dollars yard.
The Hermann suit item, $500 IS, brought out
considerable discussion. Mr.. Howes asked
the witness if forty-fve dollars was the regu-
lar price for making a dress, and she said it
was. Mrs. Flynt explained to the court what
pads and protectors were, and exhibited sam
plies. After the bill had9all been gone over
Mr.. Howes asked when the plaintiff had asked
defendant for the money. Mrs. Flynt-l
asked for the money the second day after the
jubilee. Mr.. Howes-Did you send for Mr..
Coolidge then; A. Not then; think 1t was as
late as the 18th or 18th of July that sent for