The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-02
ART In THE WINDOWS.
HOW ARTISTS ASSIST THE DRY
GOODS MEN AND MILLINERs.
The Wages of ypowriters-Aiding the
Charities in Bonnets, Dress
es and Fans-How the Theaters Are
Cooled.

NEW YORK, April i'-Onc ui. last
week while passing large dry goods
house in Twenty-third street ! was at
tracted by the strange gyrations of man
closely mufiled up in great coat-for 1t
was cold-who stood, o. rather danced, to
keep warm-before the show-window OF
the establishment. On approaching ]
found that two other men were inside one
OF the windows engaged in dressing it"
with the goods the firm was anxious to
display as novelties for an opening an
nounced for the next day. soon found
that they were working under the direc-
tons OF the man outside. lie would direct
them by signs as to what pieces OF goods
to display and where to place each, evil
IDENTITY having an artistic idea of arrange
ment in his mind. While still watched
the design growing under this pantomimic
direction Of the man outside, one Of the
propretors, whom / knew personally,
came out OF the store TO look at the ar
rangement OF the display as II was rapidly
being carried out by the men inside. lie
spoke a few words to the designer and was
about to return TO the store when laccosted
him and entered with him.
why do you not employ your women
clerks for that sort OF work." asked.
"rhey are not educated to il" he an
swered.
"Are these menu I inquired.
''rhey make regular business OF 1t, he
said.
"Are they not your clerks?"
"Oh, no. they work for hundreds OF 9TH
er merchants"
AT window dressing only?"
"No; they make designs in dresses, hats,
bonnets, passementerie, and almost every
thing which goes TO decorating ladies fig
ures and heads"
''They are men-milliners, then" sug-
gcsted
"0h, no; they are artists who find plenty
OF remunerative employment in this way
from merchants who know OF their skill. +"
"Strange | never heard of them before"
''Not at all. They keep their business
secret from all who are not their custom
ers; they would feel little disgraced,
fancy. ii il was known that they do this
sort OF work. But IL is moro remunerative
than sketching in black and white for the
illustrated papers and magazines, or even
painting in oil or water colors.
] could hardly credit this statement, but
was assured that there were numbers OF
poor artists engaged in this sort OF 'decora-
tive art" The majority OF dresses and
bonnets OF fashionable ladies in New York
though made by mlliners and modistes,
are designed by men who often inspect the
work OF the larger establishments before
the completed gowns and head gear are de-
livrred to customers.
Some one who has learned my address
in some mysterious way writes me through
the office Of one OF your esteemed con-
temporaries," asking for information as TO
how 10 obtain instruction in stenogaphy
and type-writing, with view TO subse-
quent employment in this city; the rates
paid, chances OF early and constant occu-
patton. am not going 10 give my adj
vice, but possibly some discouraging facts.
There are several schools for teaching both
stenography and typc-writing, but one
must he very discreet and careful in Sc
lccting Them. The best are the schools
where the teaching Of bookkeeping was
established long before stenogrRphic and
type-writing lessons were given in them.
The charges for tuition In these branches
vary. Some teachers advertise 10 perfect
a scholar in both stenography and type
writing in three months and secure her
immediate employment ut the close OF the
term Of tuition for $50. Don't trust the
majority Of these The rates paid ste
nographeH are low, considcring.the labor
involved, Fifteen dollars a week Of ten
hours day in brokers' and merchants
Offices, where young ladies' are brought in
contact with all sorts Of insulting persons,
is large salary. The supply OF women
stenogmphens greatly exceeds the demand,
and the overflow OF applicants for posi-.
tons is going on constantly. Employment
In business houses OF such high character
rs TO DO desirable connections for ste.
nographer, goes almost wholly 10 the oldest
and ugliest OF the applicants. Merchants
who wish TO secure industrious women
likely TO permanently remain In their EN-.
ploy will not engage pretty stenographers
You can guess the plain reason why. Tho
pretty ones are sure 10 attract or distract
the men clerks attention, and quit work e
get married; while the ugly ones are moi
molcsied In this way, and arc allowed e
get along with only themselves TO sup
port. SabeY
spoke In former letter Of some OF the
Lentcn entertainments Of New York fash
ionable people, given for charitable pur
poses. Here are some curious ones which
will illustrate this peculiar form Of craze
DIR. William A. Hammond Is the mos
famous surgeon we have in this city. III
has practice worth anywhere from $50.
600 TO 500, 1000 year, and lac IL immense
ly rich in this worlds permanent goods
. like houses and lots and horses and car
riages and silver and bric-a-brac, and ais,
IN ono OF the handsomest young wives yot
ever saw. lie has magnificent establish
ment In the most fashionable quarter o
the city. Tho other night he gave an en-
tertainment there 10 large audience at :.
ticket, for the benefit OF the New Yorl
Post Graduate Medical school and hos
pital The performance consisted OF tn
mcsmcrism Of two young men, and was
most laughablo aud interesting exhibition
not differing materially from the maniics
tations usually seen at public exhibition
Of this SORT The most interesting part o
Il was the explanation by DIR. Hammond
that the power Of mcsmering did not rec
In the operator, but that the manifesto
tons Witnessed might be produced by an,
person, provided the subject was suscepti
bic 10 the mcsmeric influence. Anothe
exhibition was given In the armory Of tn
Twcnty-ihird Regiment OF the Nationa
Guard, In which the whole process OF nj
lacking and defending fort, with the &C
cessories Of ponioon bridge building
throwing up oil caithworks, Use Of an am
bulance corps, etc. were fully illustrates