The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-27
MILLINERs IN PARIS.
They Arc Becoming Alarmingly Num-
erous-.The Equivocal Establishment.

They Arc Becoming Alarmingly Num-
erous-.rhe Equivocal Establishment.
Miliners are becoming alarmingly
numerous in Paris just now says dis
patch from that city TO the London Tide
graph. The term is used broadly 10 de-
note those who traffic in things appertain.
ing TO the general adornment Of the
female form in the French capilal-which
was always, OF course, famous for the
number and skill Of its modisles and cou-
,urieres OF late, however, the builders
OF hats, bonncts and dresses have become
almost Ms multitudinous as those Austria
lian rabbits for the determination OF which
the valuable service OF the eminent NJ.
Pasieur was called into rcquisition. II
would be well II the authorities whom il
may concern would keep an eve on tins
rapid extension OF the branches OF the
millinery business all over the capital, and
10 prevent the suffering public from being
taken in by so.called "millinen," who
are either consummnte frauds and cheats
or carry on commerce OF an exceedingly
! equiyocal character under the style, guise
and title OF modistos or couturercs. A
chroniclcr has computed amusngly that
| the mllincrs and drcssmaken now set up
In business la this metropolis are rs
innumcmblo as the stars In the
ornament, and that every day at least half
dozen new shops, dealing osiensibly
or In reality In feminine wear. are opened
in various parts Of the city. There are the
mOdslcs a commission, who work Tor largo
metropolitan or provincial haberdasheTy
establishments; the cheap milliner, who
/ furnishes ready.nadc or secondhand
/ hcad-gcar for the establishment OF the frail
| females Of the bouloyarls or the ouvriefcs:
| the lannon's mOdislcs, whose names are
household words in Europe and America,
| employing sixty or seventy hands, and
whose artistic skill In the construction OF
/ fashionable hats out Of the most slender
and often the most ordinary materials IL
remuncRlcd at something like prima
| donna prices.
Finally, there is the femme galantc. who
sets up M a Inodis.c, TO the permanent
disgust and the chronic yexaiion OF the
| genuine members Of the profession" Of
| millinery. These mOck-milliners are the
bugbeara Of the community at large, aud
/ a. the ladies have sometimes run the risk
/ OF being compromised by entering their
| establishments in state Of blissiul ignor-
| anco rs 10 the true character ofthe owners
| Of such places. Il " ON these harpics that
! the proper authorities should concentrate
their attention, particularly at a
| time whom foreigners, with their
] mothers, sisters. cousins and aunts are
| docking 10 Paris ior the great exhibition.
] What makes the cquiyocal millinery csiab-
| lshmcnl more dangerous Is the fact that
/ their auack proprcios sometimes initiate
I the real article 10 the letter. Some OF them,
Tor instance, display the latest Creations"
| la the hat or bonnet line la their windows.
/ They exhibit, in all itsbcauty aud volume,
tho colossal pymmidal hat It's congcncr,
/ the mountainous creation" which IA
theatcrs hides actors aud stage from occu.
pants OF back rows, aud they have lately
taken 10 the newest form Ol spring hat,
which il neither pyramid nor mountain,
but q fiat plain, rather tuccliously de cnbcd
rs LAssiciio prinianicrr or 'spring
plate" which n deliberately ornamcntcd
| with lilies Of the valley, saint Johns wort,
hawthorn, primroses, and laurel leaves.
In many instances, Too, tho imposior has q
skilled forcwoman, who completes the H.
fusion hy taking the orders Of customers,
who are eventually made 10 pay 300 or 200
francs Tor hat and he ornamental acccs.
series, the coat price whereof was infn-
ilesimal. II 10 well that tho foreign
public should be warned against these es-
iablshmcnts In tmc, for they are TO be
mot with by the unwary at various points
of the chief thorougliiircs M vol as In
places less irvqucnicd by visitors TO Paris
from abroad.