San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-01-19
REPTILE SKINS.
How q Caprice or Fashion has Sgddeuly Given
Them value.
New York Mail and Express.

New York Mail and Express.
BY simply a capricious move on the
part OF elegant society the game has
been turned most disastrously against
the alligator. 1t hardly sufficed for no.
vel usage that upholstery as we'll as
journeying bags of very variety should
have come to signify the levying OF q
severe tax upon the personal posses
sions of the unhappy saurian; 1T was
equally to be discovered that our fine
Jewels and other splendid tribes could
be in no manner more correctly incased
than by the use of his tough and
wrinkled hide. pursuit of the ami
NAL thus far has caused no such dimln-
uation of numbers as that noted III the
case of the nobler elephant tribe. The
earnest commiseration exercised IN re-
ference to the latter, when sorely men
aced in his native jungles, fails moro
over to attend the Instruction OF the
unloved alligator. The reptile exists
apparently in sufficient multitude, not
withstanding all that tends to its dis
truction. In q stage where the human
enemy hardly endangers the condition
of the species, it suffers from its eggs
being largely devoured by the vulture
many are destroyed by ravenous fishes
as soon as Matched, and to aid this re-
ducing cause the male alligator, an ut
ter social reprobate as he is, makes
nothing of engorging himself with the
young of his own species.
Although hardly to be reckoned
scarce, the skin of this animal IS still
expensive. Much of that which is used
here is previously sent IT, European
tanneries for the desired ind OF pre-
paration. 1t is returned in soft and
beautiful quality, and in the different
colors which may at the moment be
fancied. At present mode is consider
ed particularly elegant, as is also fawn
green and red likewise appear, al
though much less frequently than the
permanently favored tan and seal
brown. A medium-sized journeying
bag of this material may be made here
to be worth $500 or 81 900. The cost is
about the same as in the case of seal
skin of corresponding quality and style.
An important bag OF the latter mate
rial, however, has been in use here
which had cost its possessor $4,000; but
belonging to this were of course exqul-
site fittings and mountings of gold.
The bag of alligator skin costs one
third as much if furnished with elegant
silken lining and gilt mountings; the
bottles for cologne, salts and soap, the
tooth and nail-brush bottles, desk, etc.,
are of cutglass finely patterned and
covered with gold plate tops; the combs
are of beautiful shell, while very fne
ivory forms the handles Of brushes and
is employed in the framing of the
folding mirror formed with one plate
which magnifies and another which re-
fleets the natural size, there is a port
folio of alligator skin, and the ten little
articles named as nail implements and
having dainty mother of pearl handles
are arranged in small silk lined case
of the same material; gold thimble
may display rim from corner
pocket, while included with all the rest
are alligator skin jewel and needle-cases
The bag is fastened securely by patent
catches, and provided with an English
water proof cover. In bag of russell
brown alligator skin, with velvet Innings
and mountings of fire gilt, the articles
are arranged on a central wedge shaped
stand or rack, with end supports of
gilt in elaborate openwork, all of which
inner portion may be removed from
the bag by loosening the springs by
which it is fastened at the bottom, if
this is desired to be placed on dress
ing table. Yet, even fashion frequently
contents itself with somewhat less than
style like this for travelling conven-
fence; where single bag so costly as
that first mentioned is to be met with
in the journeying world, may be, per-
haps, thousand valued at hardly o
tenth as much. Indeed the average
traveller is supposed to be able to
perform his journeys quite comfortably
with bag costing no more than $50.
POPULARITY OF THE ALLIGATOR.
Alligator skin, however, is what suits
the present complexion of fancy best,
and alligator skin it must be; but the
preference. so far as concerned with
the travelling bag, has sufficiently
reasonable basis in the fact of utility
for here no quality could stand instead
of that proverbially intimated by the
expression of slough as alligator
skin" 1t is generally presumed that
the material will last forever; it very
evidently endures extreme hard usage
without becoming any worse in appear
snce; where Russia leather would be
scratched and defaced completely, the
firmer texture of this skin saves it
from being in any degree affected. By
such extraordinary capability for wear
the material proves in reality most de-
sirable for the barge handbag, the
tourists bag suspended by the strap
over the shoulder, the hand shopping
bag, and yet the smaller bag adapted
= II "