The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-05-23
An American Lady in London.

People who visit place for the first
time, no matter how old ii may be, see
great many novel things which are
either not noticed or have been forgot
ten by the residents themselves; and
when they refer to them they are re-
warded for their pains by the remark,
g Oh yes, you are like all the verdant
visitors, who invariably speak of things
familiar to us as only curious to them
And yet think that even cockney
viii be amused if frankly put down q
few of my sensations during my first
month in London.
Let me talk a little about English
women. Although they claim to be the
greatest walkers in the world, they have
none of the grace of the Americans
Their feet are larger, and they step out
like men. They have none of the ex-
quisite and delicate taste in dress for
which my countrywomen are noted, and
no idea of the harmony of colors.
have strolled along Regent Street, Bond
Street, Oxford Street, and the Strand,
and, judging by the female professions
| have met, L conclude that encounter
ed specimens of every class and condi-
ton, and my verdict is clear that the
average Englishwoman is very plain
and unprepossessing. At first thought
that the porcelain classes-that is, the
nobility and gentry-scorned to walk
the streets of London, and that the
handsome women were all kept for
show in tie big houses; but the other
day, as | was walking through St.
James's Park, | came plump upon a
long line of aristocratic carriages, laden
with ladies in their court regalia, on
their way to the Queens Drawing-room
at Buckingham Palace. / did
not fear to look and linger; and
although there were some fair faces
of pure English type, my early
impression was confirmed, viz, that fe-
male beauty in England is neither so
frequent, so refined, nor so delicate as
it is in the United States. l have yet to
! see the women of the Continent, but so
far the palm rests with my sisters at
home. Yet, the shops are exquisitely
adorned in the fashionable streets; and
| rhapsodized over the sweet bonnees,
beautiful costumes, dainty gloves, and
shoes and boots. l say l rhapsodized
over all these till | saw the English la
dies wearing the things by which | had
been so much attracted; then the whole
illusion vanished. Again l was olsen
chanted by the English shop-girls re-
turning home after their days work.
Hard faces and common, careless cos
tunes, nothing bright in walk or talk;
and what contrast between the gay,
fresh, winsome girls that pour along the
streets of New York, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton, or Baltimore, vending their way
every evening toward their humble
homes! And the difference might have
been followed up and perhaps explained
by the much higher wages paid to the
work-women of the United States.
Just here let me give you little of
my own experience in regard to dress
making. L was recommended to first
class fashionable dress-maker in
London, whom l engaged to "build'
for me a handsome costume of silk
and velvet in the latest Partisan
style, asking her what her charge
would be if l supplied all the materials
| very well knew that she, like all Euro
pean milliners, would prefer finding
them herself. She replied: 81 can not
give you the exact price; it will depend
upon the time required to make it.n |,
however, left my goods, and within five
days she returned to me an exquisite
princesse of eau de Nile gros grain, fit
ting very closely the figure and hips.
A plateau of bottle-green velvet formed
the front, while the center backs of the
waist and skirt were of the velvet,
slightly pulled just below the waist line,
and extending to the extremity of the
long train. On either of the side back
cores were placed large square pockets
of velvet, piped and ornamented with a
tasty little bow of silk. Around the
edge of the entire skirt was deep fac
ing of velvet cut out in squares, which
we're piped with fine cords of the gros
grain; between each of these squares
were placed kilt-pleatings of the silk.
On the sides were outstanding folds of
rich point applique. The waist was ex-
tremely high and close to the throat,
while the sleeves of velvet and silk were
quite short elbow, edged with frill
of point applique and inner ruches of
crepe lisse. The entire effect of this
costume was recherche and classic. l
dreaded to see my bill after examining
the neatness and elegance of this dis
ttnguee toilette. What was my amaze
ment when discovered the bill present
ed for making was only $3.50 Ameri-
can money!
Such robe made by such a dress
maker in either Philadelphia or New
York would have been $40; so that you
see there is another and better side to
my London experience. A reasonable
knowledge of this wonderful metropolis
arms,you with ability to find out the
cheapest places. If you rush into pur-
chases, you are coolly and incontinently
swindled. The shop-keepers recognize
an American at a glance, and they do
not hesitate in their demonstrations up
on his supposed credulity Ponder be-
fore you buy. and you are safe.
Let me give you some of the prices I
have noted in my late saunterings.
Ladies' shoes are no cheaper in London
than they are in New York or Philadel-
phia, but | can buy white chip bonnet
with long white ostrich feather and fine
trimming for 1925, which would cost
at home $12 or S15. l can buy four
bottom kid gloves for two shillings, but
they are utterly worthless; yet for bet
ter article need pay only one-half the
American price. Some of the choicest
silks are offered here at ridiculously low
rates. Pink, blue and white damasse
silk for 80 cents yard, which in Amer
lea would cost SO. A ready-made cos
tune of ciel blue gros grain and damasse
for S22. A handsome black silk, fully
trimmed with the same material and
RAINBOW or clair de lane beads, for $40.
Now, let us take peep into the thea
tiers. | will not talk about the plays or
the players, except to say that l have
seen very much better acting at home.
Rut there are several irnnnsifinns that