The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-21
TO LET FANCY DRESSES.
The Costumers of New York and
How They Live.
DRESS COATS FOR POOR SMELLS.
might and "AurOra"-lIow the Theatres
Are Furnished.

To the stranger the Bowery, Of this city. is won.
der and study What with liz quaint oid-iashionsd
buildings, that straggle up Chatham streets Chatham
square, the curiosity shops that limo tho thoroughfare
far Into broad Third avenue tho Low variety shows,
lager becr saloons pawn shops and gaudily painted
oyster houses tho Bowery is indeed even In tho day
time, AZ well worth visit Old lowry, In London,
or tho Judensgasse. In Frankiort-on-theM Main. But
In tho evening whom ights--green, rcd, purple and
whitc--iiiuminatc tho curious street, and crowds OF
people, OF all nationaties. throng the pavements.
10 hurry bury oil human movement; the roar Of tho
cys voices browns tho tinKlung Of tho bclls and
stormy diapason OF mingled laughter. curses song
and babbie hlls tho air
THE COSTUMES OF NEW YORK.
Among the illuminated signs to no found over shops
all along the Bowery those painted gaudy colors
announcing that costumes and fancy dresses arc to be
lot within. Usually in tho centre OF these Transparent.
clos female Is represented OF those wonderful
dresses only 10 be seen on tho modern stage. In
nearly every block above Chatham square there are
one or more OF these signs and she inference that the
business OF letting costumes on the east eide Of the
town was . profitable ono led q HERALD reporter
to investigate these shops where sewing girls could
dof their plain working habits and in tho twinkline
OF an eye como out Titanss stars OF the evening.
stumbling through o dimiy lighted hallway near
Grand street. and up two flights Of rckoty stairs tho
reporter found himself on landing, with door to
the right OF him and door tho lott OF him. BY the
aid ofs smoking kerosene oil lamp he read over the
panels OF No. 1, "Lad,ss Room" and ovcr No. 2,
.sGcntlemen's Room" Knockingat tho door OF tho
latter admission was obtained TO largo apartment,
ana tho proprietor, . German, proceeded TO answer
the interrogatorios In regard to his business.
"Ah, dc dimos hart You dat bio Of
dresses pointing to heap OF tawdry coorod silks,
cut In various fancy styles, ringcd with gilt trimming
and bespanglcd with rusty tnsel stars SWELL used
all out init dc gals night after night az
goot briccs, too; but now everybody 10 hoor and
where used 70 got IS and $40 for elm costume. men
Gott! dcy grumblcs and not give mo ash much as6
drse."
..who are your best customsrsf" asked the re-.
porter
.vcll. you SEQ we have all kinds rhore are tne
gals who work init do stores on Broadway. They
want TO so 10 bali init do chap what walks tho floor
down In tho store. Thoy wants Gin nice silk black
dress init oin long drain. They como hero and nxes
SURPRISE PARTIES
"But the Pig trade. ssusl now" continued tho cos.
tuner; us for zerprisc barties. Aon Gottl somo-
tnes will do nutting for week, then twenty peO-
pies como and they want dc whole shop; do gals want
gretchens, mecrmads, peasants und queens: the men,
Hamlet mt do dagger, Romeo init de Pig stuffed calls,
Macbeth init dc crown IN yailer sthones. und CLOWN
thrown in TOR nothing"
"Do you have many calls from coiored customorxJ
''oh, yaas yaasl And very good peoples, TOO" re-.
piled tho costumor. s.They always want TO DO kings
und wear great rod robes. OtheIlo Is Elm favoriio
dross Tor mon, and tho women have great taste Tor
mariana costume init the tambourne.'
DO you exact deposit from.those who wish 70
'.No,, was the reply. 1--WE shudge our customers,
und they don't SUIT wo shust don't lot them ous ae
all BY Chingol OATS watts the matter"
DRESS GOATS swxLLa
After leaving tho German costumers the reporter
called ut place near Fourth street where the same
business has been carried on tor nearly thirty years.
la this establishment which had moro tho air or
spectacle BUSINESS place, the walls OF two large apart
ncnts wore lined with boxes filled with all tho prom.
incnt costumes known 10 tho frequentcrs OF mas
qucrade balls, each box being appropriately labelled
On tables extending tho length OF Tho rooms wsro
piled heaps othe theatrical dresses uni.
forms OF soldiers, helmets arInor, doublets. hose,
heaped In sort OF picturesque confusion OF form and
color AZ tho extreme end largo wardrobe with
closed doors excited the curiosity OF the reporter.
"What do you keep IN theref ~ no asked
Mcn's dress coats" the response, sand ladioss
black silk evening dressca" The doors were opened.
ana tho reporter saw arranged In admirable order,
about twenty-five black coats, OF all slxes be-
sides number of ladies' drcsscA sYou have NO ideo
how many calls We have. exclaimed tho costumcr.
s'for dress coats. Young clerks, small salaries,
cannot Afford 20 buy article OF clothing costing $50
or $40 winch II worn only lev times IN season,
when they are invited to party where full dress
CURED they como hero. ana Tor 81 they supplied
The obIgng costumer endorsed the statement Of the
German before quoted that business was very dun.
and that prces obtained for the loan OF masquerad.
ing dresses were loss than one.half those OBJ
tanned before 1873. He added q matter OF In.
formation, TOO, that tho Germans who had boon
In former years tho most liberal patrons Of the
costumcrs, now owned or mado their own drosscs and
hired but ttlo Tho state OF business hal also cur.
tailed their ball going propcnsitics, and instead OF
gong 10 Jour or Ave pals during tho they
tended but ono or two, auch as the LioderkTauz or
MacnnorchoE On tho other hand tho Americans.
who had formerly INDUCED but little In masquorad.
ing, making fancy dress surprise parties quite
fashionable, and there was good demand for tncso
purposes
THEATRE COSTUMES.
The largest fufnishers Tor masquerade balls and
from broadway. Ono of these houses tho reporter
toia the largest establishment Of tho kind IN
America, and had considerable capital invested Ia
the business Upon repairing 10 tho place the writer
found Two young women trying on costumes before
y largo mirror IN the front apartment They woro hno
specimens OF our young Indy shopkccpcrs, handsome
fun of gayoy and evidently bent fun with
their pretty DISCUSSES which enhance rather thun
conceal their sparkling beauty. Tho brunette OF tho
twain finally accepted the appropriate costume OF
Night anu her blonde companion Aurora, and they
carried of their prizes tittcring and whispering 10
each other The proprietor then at leisure gave the
reporter the following Information In addition that
cleaned above. lilo furnished theatres with costumes
complete for an opera or a play. lie could do thi6
more thoroughly and chcaply than the management
variety ofways. he had recently applied TO oy
the management OF Nbo's Garden 10 furnish tho
pleie costumes for 'fho Three Guardsmen;'' as but
little OF the MATERIAL however, al hand and tho
notice was short, he declined. Theatrical wardrobca
were special occasions from New York TO
taDt parts vi the Union, bu the WHOLE Tor the past
three years, tho business had been unremuncrativa
There occaglon Tor much dead stock
late tho course OF the year, Tor costumcr under
Standing hrs business could turn over MATERIAL dye u