The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-11

tectlves, too, are to be kept at every
door. In Europe lady goes out shop
ping only when she really wants to purchase
something. Here shopping seems TO be the only
pastime Of a large portion Of the female pouul
ton. As far az have been able to notice, the
shopping community, very large though 1t IL, ~
cont osed every day of the same persons. AT
II events, you constantly see the same faces a
Slewart's, at Lord & Taylor's, at Arnold Il Con-
stables, as you see ON Broadway between these
estal lishments.
Another peculiar feature OF American shopping
Is that women who really want to purchase
something more than bit OF ribbon OF pair OF
gloves come mostly in company Of their hus-
bands, while in Europe woman shops always
by herself, unless she be very young indeed and
still very much In love with her lord and master.
The consequence OF this Is that occasionally
quiet little family rows occur at the dry goods
stores. The husband will saw that he nnds
dress bonnet too extravaganza, while the
wife will answer that she does not care
about what he thinks, and that she "must have
it," And the unlucky statesmen and saleswomen
have to bring them to a reconciliation the best
way they can.
With reference to prices, should say that, as
rule, New York prices are about forty per cent.
higher than those OF Paris and about fifty per
stance, dress OF say $500 at any Of tue large
broadway stores could be obtained for about
$40 francs and f30 respectively at the best estab-
lishments OF Paris and London. The reader
must not be astonsbed at the fact that Paris
prices are higher than those OF London, even
for articles made OF French material. This Ia
one Of the results Of the Franco Prussian war.
The people of Paris have been so heavily taxed
that they can no longer compete in the prices Of
Paris manufactures, though they still beat the
world IN finish and taste OF the work. Things
are going 80 far that the mantle trade and
the trade In ready-made cashmere and
woollen dresses has to a considerable extent
migrated even a. far az Berlin. Before the war,
the cheapest hands for common work In Paris
workshops were Germans, but these can no
longer get employment In France, and this has
given new impulse TO the matchmaking and
dressmaking industry In their own country.
Many an American lady who thinks the dress or
wr PIPER she bought at a large Broadway store
TO be French, In In reality In possession Of q
lie lin article.
The pay and treatment OF the employed here IL,
am sorry to say, In every way below what IL IL
either In England or France. For ten hours
work. without the right OF ever taking a seat,
the pay Of six or seven dollars a week Is mis-
erably low. The stsnd-up rule Ia particularly
trying for women, and very much in consequence
OF its enforcement but few Of the sales women
enjoy good health. Thirty shiilines or thirty
Ave francs week would DC considered good pay
In Europe. but then the living there costs only
half OF what Il costs here. The largest Of all
firms Is apparently that which pays the lowest
wages and enforces the most stringent rules.
Yet both men and girls are glad to obtain situa-
tons there, for the sake OF having a reference
after few months service. Possibly tho
most unpleasant feature OF a situation in an
American dry goods store IL the subsection one
finds oneself Ia 70 the so-oalled 1oor-walkers.
Every section has man whose exclusive bust
meas IL is to walk up aud down hts beat and
see that those employed shall never talk to
each other, never read paper or a book and
never take q seat Though have never been
either In Turkey or in prison, for some reason
or other II always seems to the that the role OF
noor-walRers has something of the nature OF
the role Of eunuchs In Turkish harems, or Of
wardens in the Jails.