The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-27
WORTH AND HIS WORK.
A SIGHT OF THE GREAT MAN IN HIS
OWN FAMOUS SHOP.
The Most Patient and Enduring Man in
the World Two Artistic Sons-De-
signs for This Year-Busi-
ness Success.
lrarls Cor. New York rimes !

No man or woman who made of dress
making an art and a business has ever been
talked about SO perslstently OF has made so
lasting an impression as the still brilliant
add omnipotent fashion lawgiver of the Rue
de Ia Palx-M Charles Frederick Worth.
He reigns supreme and think any doubt
of the prosperous continuation of his dynasty
would scarcely affect his untroubled and
confident equanimity. He is still the
ubiquitous, hard-working, inspiring task
giver of his fashion palace. His two sons
aid him legltimately and effectively, but
| the senior has no desire as yet to rest upon
his laurels M. John Worth is said to
possess all the taste aud artistic perception
| of his father, while NJ CASTOR takes entire
charge of the financial department When
| we consider the vast amount of goods used
the 290 or 80 women constantly employed,
the first second, and third heads of the diff
| ferent ateliers and all the minor detail, the
necessity of a cool business head-a prac-
tical and guiding hand-becomes ap-
parent
| repr0ach has sometimes been made that
| M. Worth paid little or no attention to any
one, not spending thousands of francs, or
not boasting of an imposing name of aristo-
cratic lineage For my part l consider NJ.
Worth the most patient and enduring
man iii the world; he has to listen
to long tales of private pros and
cons, all tending ultimately to the
reduction in his price Then, if the lady
suffers from the depressing influence of a
| troubled skin or a toe blossoming cheek he
must right these and then finl color to
deceive the public and lend the charm OF
delicate transparency. If the left eye looked
lmptoringly toward the right eyebrow; if
the nose has rather a too clearly defined
| Boarbonic majesty, OF If the mouth should
happen to deviate slightly from purely class
ical outline, NJ. Worth must find the way
to correct such incidental blemish A stout
figure must be made slight; an emaciated
one must be ma de buxom; height must be
created or lessened, ami il when all is said
and done the possessor of the new gown does
not find herself pleased, and does not crush
to atoms the aspirations Of her bosom friends
then NJ. Worth is a snare and delusion.
When | entered the establishment lately,
the dictator was entirely obliviouS to
the outside world. kneeling before the pretty
figure of a blon1e robed in the fascinating
fold of q court train in process Of construc-
ton for the empress of Russia, NJ. Worth en-
tirely disappeared in the clouds of silvery
lace, vapory tulle and beautiful flowers
Like an artist before his canvas in the las
moments Of the retouching previous to the
signature, every detail was being carefully
criticised. To certain degree NJ. Worth
seems to eschew the faded-out shades; he eff
\ fects the entire gamut of greens from the
grass hue to the pistache cast The good
old pink has come back also, while brigh
orange brings in its brilliant reflections. Fol
his sashes the fashion ruler has borrowed thu
pet gauze ribbons of our rgreat-grandmotherS
he lends the gleam of their satin stripes tc
the trains of his house or outdoor gowns.
Nothing with NJ Worth is left TO chance
his inspirations are carefully and quietly
studied out in yards and waste of white anC
black muslins When the idea seems rip;
and to the point stuffs and coloring ar,
brought to intensity the effect, and then only
is the venture considered worthy of patron
age Everything can be called the fashion
now From the alguillettes and broad lac
or embroidered collars of Louis XIII, dowr
to the plain skirt, high pulled sleeve, AM
expanding sash of the empire anything cal
be chosen and anything be worn that is be
coming and tasteful.
There is no compli cation in the dresses, o
at least, the mystery becomes so fit that
all seems easy enough, yet even the mos
acute womanly wit would be glad to lr
initiated and enlightened by the courteou
Miss Mary, one OF NJ Worths charmin;
aides-de- camp Her own toilet, although
extremely sober and ladylike, seems to sug
gest all sorts Of delicious combinations
Every thing this season is plain and rich, bu
2 there is no fuss; long, sweeping curved line
AMI deep folds must form the slight draper
that is allowed. One might as well as
Me,sonier TO put in a dozen or more aC
cessories as to expect Worth to show til
value of the costume by extreme nccumula
ton of detail.
NJ Worth's father was an eminent lawyer
l. and his two sons were destined to profes
sional labor when unluckv speculations S
shrunk the family fortune that the children
were driven to personal effort The eide
brother took employment, / believe
under the government, but til
youngar-the present celebrity
sud len plunge into the emporium of Swa
& Edgar in London. That soon proved il
: self TOO limited a sphere, and the youn
man decided to try Paris. Entering tn
firm of Gag ct Cie., he speedily mastere
the business He was made a partner, an
only left the house to branch out more raj
idly under his own auspices in the hue
la Paix, where he has remained ever since
occupying with his numerous dress, waist
sleeve, coat, and mantle work-rooms all I'll
space of a large five-story building. Al
guste, the hair dresser and milliner, occI
pies the entresol, true, but he, too, is quite
creation of NJ. Worth's, who not only enjoy
absolute and dictatorial power in his kinG
dom, but, strange to say, even his riva
bow before him. Commercial circles an
business men of all grades speak in hig
terms OF his capacity and integrity, an
they willingly admit that the rule of his
TO live and let live. He takes and pays fl
talent wherever he finds it.
Electricity as a KefOrmer.