Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-05
A Visit to Worth.
THE GREAT MAN MILLINER SEEN AT
.er WORK.

| .. ..+.frer WORK. e7s-
Mr.. j. L. Jennings recently paid visit
! to Worth, of Paris, and describes it as fol-
lows: Presently we reached another room
where we were left alone for few minutes
and then there entered the great Mogul
himself, the maker of fashions for half the
women of Europe. Scarctl anybody you
see is like what you imagined him to be-
| how people used to be disappointed, for
instance, with the appearance of Charles
| Dickens. How astonlshed, even dismayed
the admirers of Tennyson are when they
first set eyes upon him. Mr.. Worth was
not all that fancy had painted him; in fact
he was nothing more than shrewd, &C
tive, business like looking man, with a
head SO like the portraits of Oliver Gold
| smith, that doubtless the resemblance has
often been commented upon. He shook
hands with my friends, and when asked
how he was be declared that he was ''as-
sassinated'' by the hot weather, and al
most overwhelmed with work. He had on
alapaca coat, with pins stuck in and near
the collar for use in the exercise of his
craft, and red necktie which bore marks
of the disseminating" weather Every in
slant one or other of the attendants came
in to ask him question or receive an or
der. II am run down on every side, said
he; eat this moment four ladies are wait
ing for me to see their dresses tried on
But do not go away-come with me-"
wi, ho lad ho To RI
ment which seemed to be the inner sane
tuary, for an afiche warned off all intru
ders. A portiere was pulled aside and there
was suddenly revealed what looked liked
"lay fgure,'' standing upon pedestal in
the middle Of the room, with several female
attendants bustling actively round about
it. Toward this object Mr.. Worth ad
vanced with quick steps, and the figure
moved, and even turned it's head; and then
saw that it was a real live woman, one
was having dress tried on by way of ex-
pertinent before it was shown to the Gus
toner. She too. had a bewitching figure,
but Of course fixed my attention upon
the dress and regarded not the wearer.
The attendants fell back when Mr..
Worth approached and stood in respect
full group near the young woman on the
pedestal. The master himself cast rapid
glance over the work of art which had
been produced under his direction, and
then he began sticking in pins almost as
rapidly as the eye could follow him, and
tearing out others which less skilful hands
had already placed in the dress. Presently
he called for the ''pattern book" and
turned over many samples before he found
the exact trimming which he wanted. He
tried the effect of this by placing it on the
dress, and then resumed his work of pin
ming or uDpinning-like sculptor who
was engaged in putting the finishing
touches to his statue. The dress itself
was beautiful object, but not too beau
tiful for the charming young lady who is
destined to wear it-Miss Vanderbilt. It
was drawn and designed by Mr.. Worth,
and its progress was evidently watched
with the utmost interest by the whole
staff. The attendants 1ocked in to look
at it, and the young lady upon whom it
was being fitted seemed as proud as
duchess. 1t was wonderful what changes
the hand of the master made in few
minntes-here piece was ripped up in
order that new trimming or decoration
might be introduced, and everywhere a |
few touches effected an obvious improve
ment. 1t was ball dress, such as young
ladies dream Of in inspired visions. If
placed in room by itself it would attract
universal admiration. What, then, will
be the effect when the fair owner adds her |
own beauty to it?