The Portland daily press., 1890-10-30
SHOULDER CAPES FOR rHE
MILLION.
Tailor Made Furs Preferred. Some
Thing About Different Kinds of
FuFs.

Almost everything in the line of fur is
seiiing well this season, and the trade has
opened up earlier than usual. Perhaps the
change in style to capes has something to do
with this caprice of fortune, as less fur is
required to make a stylish garment than
when long sacks were all the rage, but it is
sell evident that the demand is unprece-
dented. All the manufacturers and dealers
are busy and CORRESPONDENCE happy over the
prospective profits. Many ladies VINO nave
worn cloth outside garments in the past are
buying fur of some kind this season, because
everybody has the idea that fur garments
will be higher next year. 1t is said there are
only "a, SEQ seal skins to be offered at the an
uual sale In London next week, and this be-
ing the case the prices naturally have
marked tendency upward.
When 1t is said that capes will be in very
large majority the situation practically
summed up is of course in the coolest wealth
or. and indeed all through the winter, sacks
and Jackets will be worn by many ladies' !;
still thus far capes seem to have captured
the female fancy. In letter from London
1t is stated that in that city and Paris the
tendency is toward slightly longer garments.
Boas seem TO be going by. though they will
be worn to some extent, especially for driv-
ing. Seal still retains the head of the list,
and Is likely to for some years to come. unless
forced to take the second place on account CT
the price. 1t is used in connection with
Persian lamb and sable for jackets. and
some very striking combinations are shown.
but they are popular with only limited
class. Next to seal should be placed black
martin and Persian lamb, with monkey a
close third. An increase in the demand for
mink or American sable is noted also. Rus
sian and Hudson Bay sables are too expen-
sive to meet with much favor now. Arti-
cles made of these kinds of sables are ex-
c.edingly dear, the price of choice Russian
sables being often fabulous, and only worn
by the very wealthiest people. For example
small box 12xSx6 can contain $1,000 worth
OF Russian sable pelts. Should the price of
seal continue to rise, as the present situation
indicates, the old-fashioned sable is likely to
come again into Its former favor. The word
sable we find to be very elastic term, and
the fur from several different animals is
classed under this same general head. Wool
seal finds many friends, and cape made
from it is handsome garment. 1t is also
used considerably for trimming Astrachan
holds it own this seas on, though there are in
dications that its popularity is waning.
A dozen years ago firms in this line were
accustomed to make up line of garments
In the summer season, with the assurance of
selling them in the winter. Ladies would
accept sacks and cloaks. which now could
never pass inspection. The make and fit of
fur garments must now be in every way
equal to,the ''tailor-made" suits. Our furrers
are meeting this demand and have stocks of
furs with which to satisfy the wants of the
most critical. More garments are made to
order each year and individual taste is often
considered more than prevailing style.
Two of our local furriers have made es-
pecial efforts to anticipate the boom in the
business. Mr.. A. L.. Merry has increased
his facilities for handling furs and has in.
creased his stock of goods both in skins and
in ready-made garments. His window dis
play is large and attractive and is we'll worth
looking at.
The Red Hat Store across the street ha:
gone into the fur business more fully than
ever before. The rear of the room on the
ground floor has been fitted up as fur par
lor. In which are large and varied assert
ment of fashionable shoulder capes, muffs
and boas, as well as long garments OF all
kinds. Both of these gentlemen realize that
the desire for "tailor-made" garments has
extended to their line of business. and both
are prepared to make their own garments, as
we'll as to sell those made In the large fur
houses of Boston and New York.
Portland Is the fur metropolis of the state,
people bringing garments hare to be re-
paired, or furs In whole skins to be cut and
fitted. This is as It should be. and 1t is to be
hoped that the trade now well established
will increase from year to year.