Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-22
The PER1Ls OF SHOPPING IN PARIS.

The PERILs OF SHOPPING IN PARIS
Worse even than the rudeness and impertinence
to which travellers are subjected in Paris is the
gigantic system of cheating TO which they too
often fall victims from their total lack of eX-
perience in any such villainy at home. The per-
son who purchases point lace tiounce, a velvet
dress, or n package of gloves at Stewards or
HOmer's knows perfectly well that tits unneces-
sary for him to inspect the quality or verify the
quantity of his purchase before paying his bill.
1t is not so in Paris. The best known and old
est houses do not scruple to add to their lawful
gains by all kinds of cheating | have myself
been cOgniZant of cases where six yards of vel
vet have shrunk to four; where an embroidered
dress has been found to be embroidered on one
breadth only-that one of course the part eX-
posed to view; where packages of gloves have
been opened and imperfect pairs substituted for
those chosen; and where a velvet cloak has
been sent home, carefully and elegantly done
up in a box with quantities OF ribbons and it's
sue paper bat on being examined 1.-THE unusual
care in packing having reused Suspicion)
proved to have had one of the breadths replaced
by defective piece ofvelvet. | have also known
an instance where some valuable Russia sable
skins were sent to highly recommended and
well-known cloak-hOuse in Paris to he made up
and several of the skins disappeared in the pro-
cess. In another case a lady bought splendid
engraved amethyst in Italy, and sent it to one
of the fashionable jewelers. of Paris to be set
The amethyst was sent home TO her in an ele-
CANT setting, but the rich violet hues of the
stone had faded strangely during the process:
and examination revealed the fact that O we'll
executed copy in purple glass had been substi-
tuted for the costly gem. Fortunately, a small
flaw on the under side of the amethyst had not
been noticed by the imitator, and the lack of
that identifying mark in the counterfeit enabled
the lady by threat of legal process, to recover
her jewel. In less important but equally fla
grant case an American lady selected bonnet,
aiI fOri nuis oil md
orders to have it sent home. When it arrived it
proved to be miserable imitation of the article
she had purchased, the feathers, lace, velvet,
etc, being of very inferior quality. She went
back to the milliner to make complaint, saw
there the identical bonnet she had originally
selected, but, being powerless to obtain redress,
was forced to pay considerable sum to have
the exchange effected, and to obtain the article
| she had really bought.
1t is a fact well known to all American habit
ues of Paris that the heads Of one of the largest
and most celebrated Of the glove houses there
are in the habit Of sending in their old and paid
bills to their former customers when the strang-
ers' list apprseS them of the arrival of these
unwary foreigners. For in most cases the re-
ceipted bills have been left at home, and the
hapless traveller has no other choice than to pay,
and to anathematize French roguery as he does
so. | was one day an eyewitness of an anus
ing scene in that shop. A gentleman entered
with a countenance highly expressive of indig-
nation, and summoning the shop-woman, who
spoke English, he displayed TO her long bill
dated some two years back.
81 paid that bill before left Paris" he said
in a very positive tone.
"You must be Mistaken" was the equally pos
tive reply. eve never send in our bills after
they have once been paid" There was very
feeling emphasis on the "never."
"But know that paid this one"
perhaps you can produce the receiptW This
was said in a sneering tone, calculated TO exas-
perate saint
The gentleman made answer by laying down
his cane and the disputed bill upon the counter,
and extracting a pocketbook from the breast
pocket of his coat. From this he drew out a
paper, which he unfolded and held before the
sbopwoman. 1t was the receipted bill.
70 do the creature justice, must confess that
she seemed overwhelmed with confusion, and
was profuse in her apologies; upon which one
been watching the scene from a distance, came
to the rescue. 81 think l can explain to the
gentleman how the mistake occurred" he said
in those mellifuous tones which come as natur-
al to Frenchuen as purring toa cat, and are just
about as indicative of good-nature or kindly
feeling. "We have another customer of precise
ly the same name-merelY an odd coinci-
dence."
"But an oddsr coincidence" said the Ameri-
can, buttoniDg up his coat and suddenly bios
soming forth into an astonishing knowledge of
French, "is, that this gentleman with the same
name as mine happened to purchase the very
same articles that did on the very same day of
the year."
And having discharged this Parthian arrow
he acknowledgement Magazine.