Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-23
SHOPPING IN PARIS.
How Women Go Crazy Over Al
legged Bargains.
An American SchOoima'am yvhs
Was Drawn into the Vortex Of
the Bon Marche. and
Learned Wisdom.
TParis Cor, New York Tribune. !

On TIE great occasion OF tie mise en- vente
Special sale) the campaign is deliberately
planned. On the sidewalk are counters filled
with cheaper goods, or goods out of fashion,
where voluble statesmen entreat and beguile
the white-capped BONES and housewives
Against the wide entrance are trays filled
with necEties, small shawls, cheap lace made
up In various CONNECTIONS, with prices marked.
A long tray at the entrance is filed with
colored ribbons. Behind it are stacks of
piece goods, a table of silks or brocaded vel
vets, and still in line ready-made dress skirts,
cotton, silk, and velvet, for no class is neg
lected. In every available part of the store
are similar tables, on each of which is sup
posed to be bargain, which can not be
found In the regular department.
In the morning everything is i'll order, each
clerk at his post. Through the day the
crowd gathers. Between 5 and o'clock in
the afternoon the aisles are packed with
women of every class and condition. And
the spirit is upon them. There are few such
scenes out of Bedlam. The muscles of fine
ladies are as good for squirt rs those of the
white caps, and they fight their way man
fully, one and all. Nantes are torn off
dress skirts are pulled of their hooks hand
kerchief dropped is a dirty rag, a parasol
let fall is riddied. Around each tray of
coupons or occasions is solid phalanx of
women stirring them up with both hands,
grasping and grabbing. Statesmen and
women hover on the outskirts, putting in
judicious words, although speech, now that
the fury is on, is of less moment.
The air has become hot and sitting, the
aisles impossible except to the shoppers, who,
like the insane, have been given unusual
strength. Each tray of lace is surrounded by
women two rows deep. Those inside are
roofing through the tray with both hands;
those outside have each thrust one hand be-
tween the women of the inner line, and grasp
first at one and then another article as they
come within reach. There is a wild glitter
in their fixed eyes. They breathe heavy
Each is apparently oblivious of the other
Satiated or weary, they leave the Spanish
lace and pass on to another tray, elbow and
push to secure a position, and toss, dig and
root the chenille capes. Their places have
been Immediately filled with the unsatisfied
occupants of The outer row. The Spanish
lace fchus might be so many rags, the chen
lille capes are in wild disorder, the remnants
of the lace are unpinned, their marks gone,
and the tray is in a state of chaos All
through the shop similar scenes are re-
peated.
The craze takes two fosNns. Some women
are paralyzed. They go through the entire
shop, roofing among laces and ribbons in a
sort of fury, and buy nothing. The more
dangerous form is that of buying-and more
common. 1t is the form to which American
women are most susceptible. There was a
pitiful instance of this in a school teacher
who, by strict economy, was making tour
during her vacation. Fortunately she did
not come to Paris until about ready to return
home. AS is well known, the Magazin du
Louvre is directly opposite the Louvre. Each
time she found herself on the way to the
Louvre she became entrapped in the shop
Invariably, when she finally reached the gal
lery, it was within half an hour of closing
time. 81 can't get any further than the
Grand Galerie," she confessed. "Can't you
tell me of some other door, SO can reach the
Salon Care? / daren't go home without see
ing that big Murillo, the Mona Lisa and the
Marriage in Cana" The young woman knew
what she was after, but was entangled in her
femininity.
In an evil hour she went to the Bon Marche
on day of coupon. But she shall tell her
own story: 81 don't know how it happened
1t was like great suction-pipe, and 1 got
drawn in. l went in to buy a package of
shoe-strings. I'm always out of them. got
in, and l didn't go out until after 6, and then
salesman led me out because they wanted
to close. | bought three remnants of black
silk and two pieces of brocaded velvet, two
pairs of Lisle thread stockings and two pairs
of silk stockings, a cashmere skirt ready
made, and one of silk and velvet a brass
plaque, three embroidered handkerchiefs, a
parasol with lace around it; dozen yards
of ruching, nine pairs of gloves-only one
with eighteen buttons, the others only cost a
franc and half para Spanish lace fchu,
two ostrich feathers, five yards of jet passe-
menterie, some colored ribbons, a box
of assorted hairpins, an alligator
card case, a box of Lubin soap, and
some sachels, a thread lace hand
kerchief, and fur collar. l think that's all
l spent S73. They told me I could return
them if didn't want them 1 forgot was
going to London on the early morning train.
But, oh! tell me what l will do? I had
money to get here and my steamer passage
but how will pay my board here and get to
LiverpoolT'
s'Doyou want the thiDgs?'
''No, mol thousand times, the poor thing
shrieked
"What did you get them for?'
Somehow 1 thought it was my duty.
They were so cheap" It is young woman
who always like to put her acts on high
moral basis. In a house full of women tour
lists with still few dollars left, it was not
difficult to dispose of the purchases She
herself was sent off to Liverpool and home a
wiser woman.
To all this, the method of selling con-
tributes. To an American the pertinacity of
the French clerk, his persistent politeness so
long as he believes you possible purchaser,
is source of wonder, accustomed as she is to
the comparative Indifference in statesmen and
saleswomen at home.
FIGHTING UNDER ARREST.