The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-01-04
Worth, the Man Milliner of Paris

The famous monarch of modistes
granted an audience lately to Miss
Kate Field. who thus gossips about his
majesty: Worth has large establish.
meut in tue Rue de la P.ix, Paris,
where 400 young women stitch, stitch,
stitch, not all in poverty, hunger and
rags. His employees number 1900 in
all. and during the Commune, when
nobody ordered dresses or anything
else. Worth provided for 20 Of his en-
ploycs. though he. too. suffered for want
of decent food. Wasn't it good of himg
And isn't it queer that this leader of
fashion sho1ld come from the country
that i. accused of having no tastey
Worth is English. born ffty-two years
ago in Lincolnshire. Once upon 9 time
- sas clerk in Marshall & helgrove's.
aud az twenty five years of age he set
out for Paris with q few pounds in his
pocket. Brains was his only capital
That the man is a genius in his own
profession is a. evident as the multipli.
cation table. He inherited his ability
from his mother. who possessed exouis-
ite taste. You must not judge Worth
by all the dresses made by him, as
used to do. If woman insists upon
having a fussy, furbelowed costume,
Worth is obliged to make it. however
disgusted he may be. "My life is any
thing but bed Of roses" he said the
other day. What have to endure
from some women is simply incredible.
when it is remembered that they call
themselves ladies'. Oae person sailed
in lately and gave ali order, saying: L
don't like your taste at all, Mr. Worth;
want so-andso.' Madame he replied,
you can have what you want, but am
quite sure that if had your taste |
shouldn't have any customers She
didn't mind tho sarcasm. She didn't
understand it. Another lady said
recently, You make my cousif's dresses,
and don't approve of them, Mr.
Worth Neither do l, madam, he
answered; If your cousin likes eolors
mixed up, cant help it, If you have q
more cultivated eye than your cousin.
congratulate you,'" Yes, that's the
way Worth talks to the people. 1t
dosen't make the least difference who
they are. He says exactly what be
thinks. consequently lie is very original
and very amusing What would be ex-
traordinary in any one else seems to be
perfectly natural in him. A grand dame
once went mp TO Worth to show him the
new costume she wore for the first
time. Glancing at her. Worth exciaim-
ed: "Your dress is spoiled by your
gloves. Take them off" And off they
came. Worth is tailish man, with u
big, clever head and very prominent
forehead. His brown eyes are singular
ly shrewd in expression. and their seiZ-
ure of detail is surpassing-thst is for q
man. As q rule, men have no more eye
for detail than owls have for the sun.
Worth takes you at glance. and knows
what your style ought to be. which is
such comfort. When &, to dress
maker don't care to work my pass
age" l want to order harmony in
one or two colors and to encounter
brains equal to the occasion. Worth's
taste. when allowed full play. is ire
proachable. Il prefer simplicity to
anything else." no says, "but there are
women who don't believe in the value
of dress unless il is loaded with trim.
ming. They drive me mad, for they
don't take advice. Now. what is becom-
ing to one person is hidious when worn
by another. | study to make the best
out of a subject given me. rs, unfortu-
nately, We can't have people made 10
order, can we. Ii had my way all
women should be slight, graceful and
pretty. Then dressing them would be
an artistic pleasure A dress should
never overpower the wearer. 1t should
merely be an appropriate frame for a
cuarm'ng picture, but never detracting
attention from it. Sofew women under
stand this. Why. when I find I can
make costume for less money than
had been agreed upon, actually
annoyed clients by telling them 50.
They think 1t cannot be rs handsome as
Il ought 20 be. and they would rather
have more material added, however
much the design might be marred;
than pay less. | assure you tha. is a
fact. Consequently. when meet ladies
yon know that dressing is an art, l take
very great satisfaction in them as pa
irons. 1t isn't every woman who knows
how TO wear u dress When / have
done my best. try to make my client
40 her best, by seeing her walk and sit
down. To walk with style is rare
enough; but when it comes to being
able To sit down ia a dress properly
we'll. there are not many equal to that,
l can tell you. Then, women think
they ought TO have number OF dresses,
and would rather be seen every day in
a new toilet, however hidious, than
wear one dress. however becoming.
There never was greater mistake. II
your frame Is appropriate. stick To it.
Don't be getting out of il, aud trying
experiments. | have just made dress
for Madame Nilsson. in which she
looks better than lever saw her before,
aud have have begged her to wea-
that dress constantly in Russia, if she
wants to produce nest charming effect.
As she is sensible. think she will take
my advice, which yon perceive. is
against my Interests; but. gracious me,
money is not my only object. Ar, is
intended to besu,ify nature. not to
deform IL"
'fie was meek eyed granger, aud,
a. he came hesitatingly into our pres
enee. IN uhcommonly slinky looking
yellow dog slunk In between his masters