New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-18
"THE LADIES' PARADISE
SOME REALISTIC PHASES OF SHOPS AND
SHOPPING IN PARIS.
LFROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRmusEl

FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRBUSE.l
PARIS, Oct. 90.
Zola's "Au BOnheur DIES Danes" is a study Of
one OF the most important and interesting features in
Paris, the great shops such Au bon Marche, which
notably furnished the model The mise re, oeedsoH
and coupons household words in Paris, and II the
feminine mania for shopping be traced to its first
cause these terms would be held mostly responsible.
The mise en- ree is day Of special sale. The great shop
/, adorned like bride for her husband. Every art
which can catch and delude the eye brought bear
It day either of occasions of coupons The occasion
is the special sale Of goods marked down for that day
only The coupons are remnants exposed for sale, and
it follows at reduced prices As has said the
love of getting things cheap the last inrmy Of noble
mnds for minds is the first most lasting and
most ungoverned CoOeI-headed fathers and husbands
might not find these things really cheap An occasion is
actually reduction price, the occdstOn Is only
bait other purchases The coupon almost
always means the buying of certain quantity for which
one has no need The secret Of these great shops is not
to sell what one wants but to sell that which one does
not want The ways which this is accomplished are
legion One Of these is change the positions Of the
different departments An habitue OF the shop wanting
certain article is accustomed to find 1t on the eit-hand
side OF the She walks directly toward IL 10 ma
there something entirely different On inquiry she IA
obliged the entire shop TO the rghthand side
of the entrance the opposite street On her way her
attention is distracted by hundred different articles
from neokties to mustard pots, with prices ostenta-
tiousy displayed If she does not buy one, two' three
different things route which have never before entered
her head she is an exceptional Frenchwoman
friend says to me: :" When go to the Bon Marche
cave my purse at home" But even that contingent Is
rOvded against Any purchase can be bought and paid
or on delivery More any purchase bought be re-
turned and the money refunded No time Is specified,
and have known pair OF porteres TO be bought and
used for six months when the caprcious taste OF the
owner declined to admire them longer, and they we're
returned and the money given back As matter OF per-
sonal experience never went to either Au Bon Marehe
or the Magazn without buying something that
Inever thought Of buying when entered, aud fancy
there are few people who can say otherwise.
On the great occasions OF the mise en- rene the
campaign is deliberately planned On the sidewalk are
counters filed with cheaper goods or goods out OF fash-
ION, where vouble statesmen entreat and begule the
white-cappcd BONES and housewives. Against the
wide entrance are trays filed with necktes, small
shaws cheap lace made up in various corrections with
prices marked long tray at the entrance is filled with
colOred ribbons Behind it are stacks OF piece goods
table OF silks or brocaded vevets and still in line ready
made dress skirts cotton silk and velvet Tor no class Is
neglected In every available part Of the store are SINH
lar tables each of which is supposed to be some Dar-
gain which cannot be found I'm the regular department
In the morning everything is in order each clerk at his
post Through the day the crowd gathers Between 8
and o'clock In the afternoon the aises are packed with
women Of every class and condition And the spirit Is
them.
The muscles Of fine ladies good for squirt as those
OF the white caps andthey fight their way manfuy one
and all Nantes are torn Of dress skirts are pulled OF
their hooks handkerchief dropped Is dirty rag,
paraso let fall is rdded Around each tray or coupons
is a solid phalanx Of women stirring them
up with both hands, grasping and grabbing Statesmen
and women hover the outskirts putting In Judlcious
words although speech that the fury Is on Is OF less
moment The air has become hot and sitting, the alses
impossible except the shoppers Who like the insane
have been given unusual strength. Each tray OF lace
surrounded by two rows deep Those INSIDE are
roofing through the tray with both hands those outside
have each thrust one hand between he.women OF the
inner line and grasp first at one ana then announcer hrlce
as they come within reach. There is wild glitter In
their fixed eyes They breathe heavily Each Is appar-
entity obvious of the other satiated or weary they
leave the sauh lace and pass on TO another tray elbow
and push To secure position and toss dig and root the
| chenille capcs Their places have been Immediately
filled with the unsatiscd occupants OF the outer row.
The Spanish lace fchus might he many rags the che
nile capes in wild disorder the remnants OF lace arc
unpnncd their marks gone and the tray i III state OF
chaos All through the shop similar scenes are repeated
The craze takes two forms. Some women are para
5ccs and ribbons in sort OF fury and buy nothing The
more dangerous form Is that or buyingad tne more
| common II is the form to which American women are
most ,abor Who NV strict economy had been
making the during her vacation fortunately sie
did TO Paris until about To return nome IS
wen known the Magazin du Louvre Is directly OPP 70
he Louvre Each time she found herself on the way 10
tbc Touyrc she became cntrapped In the shop Inyart
ably when she finally reached the gallery II was Wltmn
hall an hour of closing-me e" can't get any further
than the Grand GacTic" she confessed Can't you zen
me of some other door, so can reach the salon Care
darcn't 20 home without seeing that blg Mnillo, te
Mona Lisa and The Marriage IN Cana Inc yo9ns
woman knew what she after, but was cntalgen IN
her femiunity. In evil hour she went to the Bon
March6 on day OF coupon. But she shall ten hei own
great suctiOn-pipe. and got drawn H. lWeh III 10 p'
"A package of shoesTingS. I'm always out or them: /
cot in and didn't 20 until after q, ana then shIr
man led out because they wanted to close nougnt
three remnants black silk aud two pieces OF bIocadeu
velvet two pairs Of Isle thread stockings ana TWO uIS
of silk stockings "A cashmere skirt ready made ana ono
of silk and velvet brass plaque, three elnDIolerel
Yards of rIching nine pairs of gOves-ouly one with
eighteen buttons the others only cost franc ana nan
pair-a Spanish lace fchu, two ostrich feathers lNe
yards 0f Jet paNcmeutere, some colored ribbons poS
OF assorted hairpinS, an alligator eTI eSe 1
Iuhu SOAP and sachcts, thread lace Ialdht
| and a fur collar think that's all spent 80 iHey
told me could return them II didn't want them, TOT
got was going to London ON the cary morning u'll
But oh! tell me what will do had money 10 get
here and my steamer passage taken, but how VIII pay
my board here aud get to Liverpool "
No no! a thousand times" the poor thing shrieked
What did you get them for T. m. -
cbcop" II Is a young woman who always likes To put
her acts on high moral basis In house ful or women
tourists with still few dollars left II was NOT unct 70
dispose of the purchases she hefscII was sent VI W
| Liverpool and home Il wiser woman.
To all this the mcthrd OF selling Contributes. 10 an
American the pcrtnacity OF the French clerk MS persist
cut poteness so long hc believes You possible pul-
chaser il source Of wonder accStoeI as sHc IL !" le
comparative indifference IN statesmen ana salSs ~
home. The uch clerk sees you throHsl y% our P yl,
| chascs He Jmpanies you To the ediSse Whch Iu
| make your payment. lie wraps up your pucc ana 10y
this time You part like old friends and with man!
| COulteslcS.
THE PERSLlLNON or TENNESSEE.