Morning journal and courier., 1881-04-28
FrOu-Fr0u.
How Fair Ladies shop In Paris. TPhiladeIpbia Bnlletjn Paris IAttarl

l NS Philadelphia Bulletin Paris LetterI | Now an elegant little coupe rolls up to the | main entrance and an usher in livery steps l forward from the building and elaborately 1 assists lady to alight. The instant your l eyes rest upon the new conner you know if ] you are accustomed to read the signs and ] warnings of the human countenance that she | IS braced and ready for the etilt-armed-cap- ] a-pie. The ensemble is charming From the beautifully shod and shapely little foot up l to the 'cap and gown'' of the whole struc- 1 ture, the inimitable and indescribable Parisiau hat, everything is harmonious, in good taste, dexterously and gracefully worn. But the vision is not only charming-it is impressive There is no eloquence about it. You see an immense amount of reserved force in that elegant and recherche figure. There is mag niicent moral force there. No hurry, no excitement is visible, yet you detect certain restrained exaltation, as of conscious power in its legitimate field. You think of Jobs graphic picture of the war-horse.
 'He scenteth the battle afar off,
 Be paweth in the valley and rejoiceth in his
 strength"
 You watch her walk among the silks and faces, the velvets and embroideries, survey ing the products of every cline and craft that contribute to such display, with an air of indifference that would do credit to an h. dian chief You begin to be uncertain in your own weak and inexperienced mind
  will observe her antagonist the other side of the counter, you will see that he is not de- ceived by this pantomime. He is watching her, as an expert swordsman watches his ad- versary, and in the faint smile that fits at in- tervals over his features, half ironic and half admiring, you will discern tokens of spirit not unworthy her own.
 The similitude of the Indian would not be unapt to convey the aspect of our heroine as she precedes the laden porter to the carriage, a couple of hours hence, with her spells. It is true no scalps hang at her chatelaine. Nevertheless, excellent success has crowned her encounter, and she is we'll content, a1d I will venture to affirm that she has got more for her money than any other woman in the civilized world could have done, and to add to that, she has used discretion and taste in her choice that few could emulate. She will have those pretty fabrics made into a natchless toilet, moreover, and the whole will have cost tri1e which, if named, would cause her American sister to heaVe a sigh drawn from the depths of her being, for the science of economy is understood and prac- ticed in France after fashion of which we as yet know comparatively little.
 A singular contrast to this cool and trium- phant vision is presented by the appearance of the rash and ruffled foreigner who suc- ceeds her. The gentleman has evidently come into the establishment with large stock of cheerfulness and money and small one of French, and there seems to be very little left of any. ''Will you walk into my parlor, said the spider to the fly"
 The countenance of the clerk waiting on him and of all the other clerks in tlie vicini- ty have been studies since he entered. His original object was to expend thirty francs or so on an umbrella, and he is surprised now to find that he has bought two pen knives in advance, three pairs of gloves, a writing desk and a set of chess men. He cannot be said to have been cheated, for he has not paid more than double the price that a Frenchman would pay for the articles, and he certainly consented to take them-at least he could not affirm that he distinctly de- clined them in intelligible French. After all, it is not serious matter and the things are pretty enough yet he looks rueful
 What vexes him is that he should have al- lowed himself to be persuaded to make so many unnecessary and, as it were, extempo- raneous purchases by those lowing, smirk- ing Frenchmen. If it had been a woman now, it would have been another affair. American gallantry yields conscious surren- der % the blandishments of women. But a man! But the proprietors of the Bon Marche understand very well their business when they employ Frenchmen in their sales- rooms. Perhaps it is better, though. to be little ssplayed upon," as Hamlet has it, or even cheated in moderation occasionally, than to make oneself conspicuously ridicu- lous through indiscriminate distrust. l con- fess to sufferings more or less keen myself, owing to an unwillingness to appear in this character for if swindling also may be classed among the fine arts in Paris, consider the facilities for its exercise that turk in the intrieacies of foreign tongue. Misunder- standings are so natural, you know. Still, I do not wish to emulate the course of an old lady here, who, harrassed by suspicious of the willy Frenchman, goes naively up to the suspected party and asks mildly but firmly, ra vnu sura sir that vOu are not cheating me?" "Gentlemen, is this bogus concern or n licensed agency 2'