The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-13
AMERICANS IN PfRTs,
Extravagnnt Expenditures - Paying Double
Prices-Onc of the Mysteries.

From n, WorM
A stranger arriving in Paris ut this mo-
ment would find il hard to hcicvo the reports
concerning TIA" hard times. The streets are lit
orally crammcd with people, the booths on tho
houlcvards are crowded with purchasers. and
the amount of money spent is enormous At
the theatres the receipts are very largo. tn"
fashionable restaurants are daily crowded. and
there can be no doubt that nrprcscnt tue people
every craft have ample employment getting
ready for the Exhibition, and although the com
paning Of hard times seems in some instances
To have become chronic, il you wish to get any
work done you are forced to wait long time
locauso tho fnUpisse,Ws have all the orders
they can ILL., | believe TINT since the settlement
Of tho political crisis vast number Of strangers
have poured into Paris hence the increased
activity To hc noticed ON all sides. There was Il
time when Paris WIS II cheap rcsldcncc; now.
however. prices range very high. More cs-
recially is this noticeable in the way OF FUR
nishcd apartments. hired carriages all man
ner oil dressmaking. ana everything apper-
tanning to the toilet Of man and woman In y
Americans. who Will have the best ~ everything
and give Themselves away" out Of sheer ostcn-
tation. eagerly stating their Willingness to my
any price so that they have something nice"
The result has been the same In evrry part Of
Europe where Americans congrcgate. We
spend money too freely and our women arc too
cNiraVagant In dress. Even those who hay" no
cqnpagcs will have lust such toilets IA Purisian
ladies who possess the most elegant carriages
Many American ladies will wear In the street.
trailing along tho dirty pavement. expensive
dresses which a French lady only wears IN Il
carriage or salon. OF course do not refer
TO those Americans who come here the Lord
only knows from what part Of the United States
and who gather at the cheap boarding houses
or feed at Nine. Dijun'-. These people 20 e. the
other extreme and are 20 mean ny 10 attract at
tcntion and 10 occasion comment
Whythey travel is one OF the mysteries. They
are always unhappy. always cNince Il readiness
io detect and hl.ht against cyiortion. and pass
their days IN winnings and repinings. OF
course | have no Thought 81 charging upon
these people the increased prices in European
cities. but upon those who. while travelling
abroad, can apparently never take Things ~
they lind them, but must always ask Tor some
thing better. These people are the victims OF
IN" house agents, the Paris shopkccpers. and
all the hOusc hold ~ the horse lccch. who lie in
wait for them and " do" them all on occasions
The astutc Partisan dealers have always some-
thing saved up Tor Just such superior aud DIM
cut parties. and having once put up prices for
them never let them come down again. hut rely
on tlnding more OF the same kind Of customers
There are shops here where they Keep articles
expressly for American buyers" no one clse
would he ridiculous enough to pay such prices ~
-, have myself heard Paris shopkcepcrs say
that certain most expensive and cNtraVagant
articles they never dispose OF save 10 demi-
nondaincs or 10 American ladies' heard Of
AN Orlcr given by one ~ our countrywomen for
"A 10 upO-lrnnr pocket hnndkerchief Of course
there was nothing Of tie kind To- be had. The
shopke"pcr explained this, and said me cost
would tax" q number Of years 80 execute the
order. ! may add that II was given. the Indy
being Diet rmin"l. she said to have pocket
handkerchief such Us even Queen Victoria
could not show.
| IAN fancy SOC tho lool. Of horror which
would wrinkle the face Of that thrifty and SON
siile Queen AZ III" mere thought % anvhpdv's
being such an idiot us to pay such price for
such AN object. There II n carriage letter bore
IA Frrnchman-Wh parsed some years ia cal
iioruia. made money there, and. coming back
t. Paris hn~ set up ia the above business with
tn Wow ~ sccurlu. only American customers
II" hrs done 80. charges q third moro than any
one "l-c. and always has his teams lHt ouf. He
manages t. ct ihr name OF doigS thctning in
-tyl". aud So our poor silly Americans -
rtraEiiwHy unto MIN likH luWl- to 80" ~'uu.h-