The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-07
WOMEN In BUSINESS.
ENGLAND WATCHED THE INNOVA-
TION WITH GREAT INTEREST.

Under Assumed Names.
From the Ne1v York Sun.
LONDON, ENGLAND, March live have
in England became familiarized With the
idea of gently nurtured and highly educated
women entering the trade by this time, but
three or four years ago the notion was still
fraught with novelty, aud it happened that
at that period ! was asked by the editor Of
newly started society paper to compile a
series Of interviews with ladies who were
keeping shops in London. l was young
to Journalism then and had never
before attempted that most easy of literary
exercises, the interview. thought, more
over, that this particular form of interro-
CATION was extremely impudent, and IL was
with degree Of shame and timidity that l
made my bow to Nine. Lierre In Park
street., Mayfair. a lady milliner whom 1
cnose to take first because Understood that
she was the pioneer of such enterprises in
the metropolis.
Lierrss own name is Lady Granville Cor
don and of trade she has made a great sue
cess When l inter viewed her she was dis
covered in the dainty little shop in which
she had already been established for four
years, surrounded by evidences of her taste
In the most facinating bonnets and hats
aad also by mutfs, of which feminine adorn-
ments she was at that time making a
specialty-dainty things OF velvet and la9e,
intended to match with hats or bonnets and
TO give pretty finish to a costume. l soon
learned that this enterprislng lady had
suffered great deal at the tongues Of those
real tradeswomen whose ranks she had
entered, and who resented her appearance
and that the talk Of her own set had been
scarcely less tiresome and annoying. But
every draw back of this kind had only to be-
felt to be firmly put on one side, and trim
ming her headgear learning TO keep her own
books and serving in her shop helped Nine.
Iierre to forget her annoyances, which an-
noyances, dying Of sheer inanition, ceased
before long to vex her.
In appearance she was eminently suited
to the saleswoman's part. Her ladyship
looks well in everything remarked one OF
her doting assistants and in this verdict
agreed cordially; nor did she seem to weary
of putting on and taking off the most lovely
ard bewitchiug little confections, whose
prices were, to say truth, exceedingly high
for some. Lierre declared that she did not
want so much an enormous clientele as
select one that could pay good prices.
ROYALTY POOR PAY.
Whether it was here or elsewhere l cam
noe remember. but somewhere during my
investigatory rsmbles l learned that the
Ing owing to the extreme length of time
that they run their accounts, whereby |
learned that to stand out of ones money,
even with plenty of interest attached to it
and a princess for a creditor, is not a very
pleasant experience. | believe that another
drawback with which society shopkeepers
had to contend at first was the distrust evil
denied in their staying powers by dealers In
silks and velvets and other stock fabrics.
These astute persons evidently treated
trade of that type as freak aud were very
keen after their money. There were, It
will be admitted, serious perplexities and
iutrIcRcies 20 be solve in the career of the
deOutante shopkeeper.
Contrary to my expectations, I found my
self on nay tour of inspection a welcomed
visitor wherever | went but l always took
the preoeution TO write beforehand to know
whether | should DO received desiring to
avoid the suuercllious denial to which [
should have subjected myself In some cases
had | merely sent in my card. In one in
stance, only, did my modest request meet
with a refusal, and that was the case Of
Lady Mackenzie of Scawdell, who, under
the now de bretique do Courcy, had set up
millinery in Sloane street. In after years at
her request, ~ wrote her up" for another
paper, and at that time she had migrated
TO Bond street and was selling some very
pretty things. Now she has gone back to
Sloane street, and the whilom magasir in
the most fashionable street in Europe Is oc-
cupied by an enterprisiug stationery firm,
who are showing ell sorts Of atrocities in
note paper, menus and visiting cards.
Mrs. Pockltngton, regally tall, splendldly
handsome, and the personiication of energy
aid good taste, was my next venture, aud
most unbscomingly shy for a journalst
did feel when l arrived at the magnificent
portals Of her house in Grafton street, Bond
street, where veritable giant OF a porter
guards the hall "Lill's" house was once
occupied by Sir William Vernon Harcourt,
and is a splendid mansion, fit for a prince,
with glorious drawing room, pauelled
with brocaded silk and nodded most richly,
parquet floor. beautiful fireplace, and
above 1t famous painting, let into the
panel. In this unique apartment there are
now forests Of hat and bonnet stands, luxu-
riousy appointed dressing tables, comfort
able lounges. 1t is Nine. Lili's reception
room for customers. And the fair shop-
Keeper herself did not allow me to feel neI-
Vous long. She chatted away so confidently
and pleasantly, showing me first one pretty
thing then another, that speedily drifted
Into my proper position as a ! jurnalist and
Jotted down my notes quite openly, instead
OF making mental ones On for fear Of
hurting her feelings, resolving the while
that this should not be my last visit to
GRAFTON street If had my own way. Nor
has it been. Since that day have often
snatched ten minutes to go and revel among
dainty bonnets and becoming hats and to ad-
mlre the creative faculty of her who dresses
many Of the fashionable weddings and her
self appears in her character OF guest at
them, living triumph over the declaration
OF the pessimist who averred that trade and
society could never go together. Mrs.
Fockungton wears in her shop a truly work.
Womanlike apron Of white lawn and sleeves
70 her elbows of the same. over her house
gown, which is ordinarily an exquisiteiy fit
ing woolen dress, and takes an active and
personal part in the management aud
making Of her goods. Shortly
after starting millinery she also
embarked upon dressmaking, of which she
uaS made distinct success. About the
Time of my first interview with her she was
enooldened by her good fortune IN Grafton
Ereet to open a branch establishments in
rarls. But this enterprise entaied so much
more work and anxiety than was good for
nine Lii that it was very sensiby soon
abandoned. So Grafton continues to be the
uead and only quarters of this falrest Of
shopwomen.
A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
- recollect, during that interviewing work
VI mine, falling into a very foolish error.
- IS possible for me to write about it now,
eut remember at the time that dared not