The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-07-04
The Drcssss3sker.

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dress went out of fashion. And even
row, when they have so much to say on
all other subjects, like sheep before the
shearer they are dumb, and open not their
mouths.
The moment woman enters dress
makers room she becomes slave. No
matter what qualities OF mind or heart
she may possess In the world, she leaves
all such trifies at the door, and goes In a
meek human being with roll OF goods.
The Autocrat OF the establishment looks
upon her merely as new suppliant for
favors, and her sufferings begin. First
she has TO run the gauntlets of two dozen
more or less-sharp female e, es, well
skilled in judging of the quality of goods,
the value of lace, the price of shawls, and
the general style of lady's make up.
Now while the opinion of dozen indlvid-
uals critics Is beneath contempt, mass
them and they become formidable enough
to make one uncomfortable. The sufferer
feels that she Is weighed i'm the balance
and Judged by what she knows of fashions
and styles. And she is haunted by the
suspicion that the moment her back il
turned she will be discussed, her lack OF
style, her wardrobe, and the probable
length Of her purse. The room itself Is
pandemonium. The bewildered stranger
feels helpless with such a confusion OF
silks and satins, velvets and alpacas lying
In indiscriminate masses on tables and
chairs, and she can't help growing feel
ing of awe towards the Superior Being
who can marshal these incongruous ele-
ments into wel-made suits. When it is
her turn to come under the hands of the
Chief Inquisitor, she presents Der roll
with quaking heart, and modesrly tells
her wishes, while the goods which in the
store looked rich and pretty seem some
how to dwindle-in the air of the room
and the glare of those penetrating eyes
into cheap, second-class article. Cues
tons begin.
"How many yards have you brought ~
In Difference 10 the discrepancy between
her ideas and the dressmsker's she has al
ready bought two or three yards more
than she knew she would make the dress
of--she mentioned the number.
"Um-it may do. but l suppose more
can be got If necessary"
"Of course" says the victim.
"Dresses in the present style do take so
much goods" the dressmaker says volu-
bly,. "Now,I made dress for Mrs. So
and-So last week and il you'll believe me,
used twice as many yards as you've
brought! Who fitted the dress you have
on, may ask?" regarding it with critical
eye. and mouth all fixed to find fault.
Woe to the weaE-minded woman who
made it herself! The temptation to
prevaricate Is sudden ard sharp. She
feels in her soul that she falls below zero
the moment she admits the Dire dful fact.
Iftruth conquers and she confesses, there
are no remarks, but significant silence
worse than words.
With an indescribable air of superior
wisdom, the Potentate turns her victim
around like shopman's figure, takes her
measure, tells her what she can wear and
what she can and at last condescends TO
inform her when she can come TO try on
the waist.
On the appointed day she goes again,
and. il very fortunate, she may find the
dress ready to try on; and she is coolly
invited to take of her dress and be fitted
in the room with the two loZen eyes
above mentioned. Then she is graciously
notified that her pattern runs two yards
short of what was needed, and her trim
ming had To be matched and few yards
bought, and there won't be a scrap OF
either left.
II the dress don't set well, sheis cheered
by the Information that her figure is one
sided, and further enlightened by the
statement that MRS. So-and-So is so easy
to fit. it's pleasure to cut for her. etc,
etc.. till she begins to think that this self
sacrificing dressmaker is comforting a
great favor In sewing for her.
Well. the dress Is sent home in the
course of time, and the owner. congratu-
lating herself on "that job done" pro-
ceeds to put 1t on. OF course it's too
tight, and probably too short; two or
three hooks fly off the lining. and the but
tons get loose the first time they are but
toned. If the dress is black silk or alpaca,
she may be thankful IL there are not two
or three kinds in IL; and she may measure
the lace or fringe till doomsday, and she'll
never be able to make ii equal the number
Of yards in the bill.
Some supplemented sister may fancy
she'll better herself by having one of the
peripatetic species in the house. But it's
jumping from the frving-pan into the fire,
drvssmaking sphere with her. And
whereas, in going TO the shop, she en-
dures an hour or SO at time, in this case
she cndures every moment. Besides
turning the whole family into errand-boys
and walters, her very presence puts a Ia
boo on books and papers and music. and
all such things. One can't get away from
her influence anywhere under the same
roof. III friend comes in, she can tell by
the worried expression of face that there's
dress maker throned In some upper
room.
Then the hostess, besides giving her
ind to the comparative merits Of rufiies
and puffs, and worrying her brains with
the anxious query whether over-skirts are
'going out" must fuss in the kitchen to
provide little more stylish meals than
usual. because she knows and feels that
the sharp eyes of that interesting creature
are on everything, and comparing then
with the things In the house of Mrs. -
where she worked last week. In fact, one
might as well live in glass. house and bs