Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-03-09
BUSINESS AND BEAUTY.
Girls with Fine Faces and Forms
Used as Models i'm n ores.

New York Cor. Cincinnati Enquire..
A great deal of nonsense has been
written about women who serve as
models for artists. 1t is not of these,
however, that | set out to write, but
Of a slightly similar employment for
girls with good forms and faces-that
of wearing fashionable things in the
millinery, dress making, cloak making
and hair establishments. Hundreds
Of girls thus turn their good looks to
account in this city, not only in retail
places, but in the wholesale depart
ments Of the largest stores. A cloak
win sell far quicker when displayed on
the form of an enchanting, live figure
than when a dumb thing of wire and
cotton, with pasteboard face is inside
OF it. This may be mild prostitu-
ton of female beauty, but it has the
countenance Of the best firms in sew
eral lines of business. The inmates
Of a pashas harem are not more care.
fully chosen than are these mercantile
models They must not only possess
fine forms and faces but a graceful
carriage and polite manners are also
required, for a ladylike aspect is as
valuable as beauty for this purpose.
The wages are never less than the
same persons could co., with the
needle, and usually 7
ONE PARTICU 3,
with the sweet fac lerite,
and the tall, willie orm
Of the gentle maidens in water color
pictures, is said to receive $40 week
in a Murray Hill robe and cloak con
Germ. Anything and everything looks
well on her; no style of garments ug-
becoming, and she has the department
Of an ideal princess She is the
daughter of a German saloonkeeper in
Avenue B. AT sixteen she applied
for work in this concern. Her suit
ableness for model was seen at a
glSnce, and she was ngaged at So
week Her pay has been frequently
raised, in consequence of enticements
from rival shops, until it has reached
a higher figure than is paid to any
other employe. She is now twenty.
She is considered worth more than
her cost, because foolish buyers, see
ing her attractiveness in a garment,
fondly imagine its possession would
somehow make them look the same.
She is a good girl and saves her money.
The same cannot be said of all who are
similarly exposed to flattery and
temptation, Spme Of them get vain
and giddy with the cppciopSness Of
their beauty and desire to own such
Gaery as they wear. Then comes dis
grace and a plunge downward. In
the millinery and hair stores the re-
quirements in model particularly
concern the head, and several stores
contain wonderful exhibitions Of facial
loyeliness of various types. In one
millinery concern this feature Of the
business has been thoroughly elabo-
rated and'systemahzed III brHpette
customer appeares a brunette girl
waits on her so that she may see the
colors in conjunction with a complex
ion Of her own. Blonde girls in turn
attead tke blonde shoppers. For
showing dresses, slapellnesS Of bust
aud waist is the chief requisite. At
the time "f closing certain millinery
store in 10th street, che scene at the
door is like that at the rear OF a the
ater during the run ofa ballet specta-
Gle, by reason OF tha fellows waiting
to escort the girls home.