The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-06
THE PARIS MODISTES.

LII T. PARlS MODlSlES.
SKETCHES OF THE LEADING DISPENSERS OF
GOOD LOOKS IN THE GREAT CENTRE OF
FASHION HOW THE HoMELy ARE MADE
LOVELY AND THE LOVELY CAPTIVATING.
P..RIs, April II, 1877.
With the earliest founders of French civilization ap
pcored tho Partisan modiste, and since the last
Stuart king died at ST. GERMAN, wearing lace night
cap lin accordance with court etiquette under Louis
Xv) there always has existed at least Paris mil
liner qualified TO issue oracles the form OF ladies'
hcadgear In days tbcre several authorities OF
tho class who enjoy tho Same prerogatlves and
II Is general belief among women OF fashion that
were these swept out OF existence fearful catnclysm
would occur, ana the ordained balance by means OF
which things kept in proper equilibrium would be
upset, In no city, in Short Is the influence OF tho
modiste moro readily acknowledged than this
OF inventveness, ingenuity and artistic com.
petition.
At the head OF the profession, and holding position
which, in point OF romuneratiyeness, is superior 10
that Of field marshal, and, indeed, TO that OF any
other state dlgntary stands Nine. virot. AS early
eleven A. NJ her two salons in tho Ruc de Ia Paix are
TO be found ready Tor purchasers, who pour from
twelve 10 six without interruption. II must not be
imagined that women Of title the wives oil
chant princes Nine. vrots sole customers. Money
for dress difficult Of obainment in France as
to bo confined 10 tho aristocracy. Tho most inexpc-
rienccd maidens come up from the provinces under
the protecting wing OF even still moro inexperienced
dowagers, and neithor maiden nor matron think much
OF paying over hundred francs for OF Nine. VI
rot's planest bonnets ''Vtrot' viewed at high
tho of such cathedral as that OF Quinn
per, for instance. quite unique and admirable In
tho Kohinoor. Even IN Paris o ..virotn is
an envicd Investment Ladies who cannot who
Will not afford such luxury manage to sit at
concert or at charity sermon, and the following
afternoon these thrifty taKersin OF loose stock
it's fac similc What is Nine. virot making? Is the
first question asked when provincials return homo
after short spring or fall tour. Among competitive
miincrs Of the great Paris feats Is 10 seduce TO
new business OF Nina vrots premiere& pre-
miere corresponds 10 first tenor In different sphere.
This OF Kidnapping draws custom TO enterprisng
firms but for q season only. When this short period
has expired II Is found that Mme virots creations are
unlike anything previously formed by her. and tho
variety OF her novelties great that tho cap
turcd premiere sinks into utter oblivion from sheer In
ability TO keep up so unequal a contest
Those who are dcsirous TO become acquainted with
learn something OF Nine. Vrot herself, and To upt
the curtain behind which she IS mystcrously hidden
from the public who
OF caps and rufles hold the crave debate,
AS OF their lives they would decide the fate.
To say what Nine vrot is not happens TO DO much
than to say what she is She Is not young, she
OF temper On tho other hand she
never will look old, aud she gifted with
ranged Ia Marie Anto,netio or la LOUIS
Nv. style, and she thus seems powdered Hor manner
quiet and she carries her head like queen Sne
dresses like dowager, IS clcar-complexoned aud
wears diamond sotaires. IL her heart be less moth
crIy than her sweet mothcry looks Is tho fault of
the bouncts these she lives Tor, these she lives on,
these she dreams OF when asleep, these have cnabcd
her TO take and appoint princcIy home remote from
the business centre Her and her bows occupy
course, certain number Of centmetres on the sur
face OF her heart but her innermos soul In the last
cdpots. She thinks only Of the now shade. the new
wreath the new bow story Is told oi Nine. Virot
which is amusiugy characteristic OF her way Of dealing
with millinery.
She fled to London during tho Siege and when Il be-
came known among tho magnatcs in tho trade there
that the celebrated mllliner residing unemployed
among them one OF them came forward and offered
magnificent terms Tor her superintendent OF bis bon
net department during The period oil her forced exile
Mc,e. Virot declined. She could not be tempted by
tho argcncss OF tho remuneration ole rcd. As her
refusal caused surprise said had gained
sufficient experience III London modes already
No.nins no, not even halt Million could induce her
which sac alluded hat boon acquired. | am
tod, in the following manner Mime. Vrot
that tho iogs prevalent there greatly depressed
her spirits and millinery beng one OF tho normal
functions OF her existence she anccd she would never
recover her usual buoyancy unless sho spent her
mornings in the cutting up oil certain quantity OF the
best satin, laco and velvet Materials were ordered;
but whom laid out In readiness her expectations OF
happy tlme soon camo TO an end. The velvet which
she slashod through brio was Cast In the fender
with an exclamation, ..Ces Angiast they fancy sucn
stun that is velvet. II has neither the feel nor tho
down nor tho glow. ~ Then a bow which
Mme vrrols nimbo jewocd fingers could not
shoulder, while sno cried, IVA, cdrcdt VA ~ Ator
that whole piece OF ribbon would ON IT'S roller was
flung 10 the wal and treated US II only 1T Tor May
polo. The wire was twisted IN unnatural spirals and
finally declared TO be las tough telegraph lines'
the tue crushed because 's,archy." The flowers,
when curioisy examined, we're SAID 10 be 'manhinc-
turcd Tor unatlcs Lastly, nothing remained in front
of Nine virot bur The thread small PINK paper OF
pms and some needles III bonncts could be made OF
tncscn phi.osophcaly observed the Paris milncr, II
dare say AHgtois would look nice in bonncts. De-
licous pms lhey are the only things can uso out
OF all tins heap o! fournures When shall get
the feel Of Lyons goods again." And with deep
sigh the effort al creation was abandoned.
Nine. Vifut loves waste, she wastes pcrscvcringly
until shc bclolds fresh embodiment rise out oil tho
debris She rcsoluely grapplcs with her Imagination
aud powers Of invention. One fact suiices 70 show
her superiority She has mover been copyist and IL
copied all Paris. Mncrs who have no access TO
her salons send thor ourrres AZ fashionable hours 10
look the hoad gears her carriage visitors They
congrcgatc round tho to her apartment and,
the ordinary passcrby appear 10 be cisurcly wait
mn: but those who know Paris con,me ieur poclc can
easily tell what all those pretty girs are lettering tor
Nine. Virot could not make the hundreds OF bonnets
which IN the course Of q season are entered IN her
DOCKS, Uut lIiS QUEEN VI Dupiih,
workwoncn and her manufacturers. who look to her
Tor Instructions and set to work wnen she gives the
signal
Nine. VIrots latest novelties are git straw bats,
tru rubber foliage Doral cnchcpcignrs (wrcuths Tor
the OF ha,s baby cap cuttings with satin loops
between make thor wcarcrs look ike Innocent Is go
ing be chrs.cned; Dutch tulip coronals and gauze
clouds tor head bosom and shoulders. Not the least
amusing features ut Mime. Vrops rooms are hcr GUS
toners They walk In with rovercntml expression
their countcnances, and guc noisclcssly over tue
carpcted floor toward console covered with hish
mushroom bonnet stands, on the top OF which are cap
tyllugly poised the ''dear loves The latter are
glanccd over, passed by, returned to- taken down,
tricd on with mirror IN front, each sdc aud
another bchnd there Is different smile for nortb,
south, east and west. Meanwhile Mmc Virot comes
and goes out TO look ut the bouncts not NJ the GUS
toners. Aors arc LOVING hngeriDSs over the shortly