Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-25

In The SH0PS OF PARIS.
Book French Is a Bad Thing to Take
Along on shopping Tour-Patience of
the Great Artists Who Cater to Ameri-
can Trade-Surprising Prices.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPATCH.l
PARIss, Sept 14-There really seems
nothing more to happen now, everything
has been seen and ali is over, for we have
reached Paris, otherwise Paradise. MY
travelling companion and 1 have each
agreed that if we can be spared to get the
wear out of our new French gowns then we
are willing to die aud be buried in them.
We "fought, bled and died" for this inery
fought with our modiste, who could not
understand either good English or bad
French, burst a blood vessel In frantic
gesticulatiOns, and finally died in despair of
ever getting what we wanted.
Just here a word of warning against
bringing your gilt-edged book-Frcnch
into Paris expecting to have it understood.
You may exactly as well come with Choo-
taw on your tongue. 1t will not so much
as buy you dinner when you are hungry.
We know whereof we speak However,
we can do without dinner in Paris better
than without pretty clothes.
The change from the dowdiness Of En-
glish styles to the tastefulness of Partisan
styles is greater than you can imagine
There is daintiness, womanliness about
the toilets of most women that is inde-
scribably attractive. Many colors, and very
high eolors, they wear, from Oldest to
youngest, and yet the young women do not
look loud, nor the elder women as if they
were trying not to be left in the race by
those younger than themselves Each of
us for long while back has avoided high
colorB at home as we would a petilence,
actually find ourselves dipping into red,
white and blue toggery along with the
giddiest But, as intimated before, to get
1t was to earn it
Buying Clothes by Pantomime-
We met some young ladies from Philadel-
phia and Rochester, n. Y, who had gotten
some charming clothes, and at prices we
could afford to pay, which was contrary to
all expectations, since this is Paris,
and we had always heard fabulous
prices put upon gowns coming from
here. We secured the address Of this
surprise in the way of reas enable French
dressmakerr and with expectations at fever
heat presented ourselves for measurement
But alas! Our friends had forgotten to tell
Us madame had no English-speaking sales
lady in her establishment and our school
French would not work when applied to
the fearful and wonderful terms now en-
ployed TO designate "the latest" in cut,
finish and material in the world Of clothes
So after much psntomiming and unintelli-
gibIe jabbering in two languages we man
aged TO beat a retreat amid many $50
Borrvs" on both sides.
So now instead of telling you what
Madame Bray did for US 1 must tell what
she did for those who could make her under
stand what they wanted, and am sure the
prices will be revelation to you
First, gown of Russian velvet, which is
an imitation only and comes in all colora.
II is one Of the newest materials out and
quite the prettiest we have had for
some seasons The material is all
wool, plain surface with a little cord
in white or contrasting color
thrown up in stripes every fifth of an inch.
The velvety appearance is purely q trick of
the loom, and most successful one. One
such gown was gray with q blue cord; this
made with q plain skirt demi-train, The
waist was very short basque in front and
little coat-tailed back High and full
sleeves of blue faille silk; high neck-band of
the same. A pretty arrangement of the
blue on the front of the bodice which
showed no buttons Large bows of the blue
faille sat upon the shoulders and another
rested upon the left hip. These were pretty
touches of art that gave French quaintness
to the costume. OF course the entire gar
ment was lined with silk, blue silk In this
case, and just under the hem were two mar
row pinked out ruffles of the silk, and all for
12O francs, or "A American dollars.
Think of it!
A Marvel of Beauty for $40.
Another young woman has gown from
the same cloth, only in one of those soft
wood-brown colors with pink cord. This
was made with silk lining of mink. a
full ruching of the material around
the bottom, which had quite
the effect of fur The waist wa.
made round, with full sleeves of the dress
material that had elbow cuffs striped closely
with baby velvet the color OF the cord
SHOWN on the fabric. 4 vest was simulated
by means Of this narrow velvet striped in
chevrons like soldiers coat sleeve. The
effect was very pretty and the color combie
nation exquisite. This gown. by reason of
the velvet trimming, came 81 higher than
the other.
Then there was a long dress of upcut silk
velvet In one OF those indescribable shades
that may be green or blue or gray. but Won
can't be certain which. This was nrinces,
cut and without other trimming than a
chiffon, shirred and ruffled small vest This
chiffon trough had in its meshes all the |
glory of q summer sunset showing IN |
ohangeable colors, green, pink, gold and
Violet-something right new in this alvav,
pretty and generally becoming material |
This robe that could not be gotten at bome |
for 500 had cost but $40 here, and its per.
fection of ut was worth one-half the price of |
the gown.
Everything In French cutting run, into
long lines Paris should be Mecca for
dumpy women. The majority of French
women alter middle age are too stout. too
Short-waited and too full in the back he.
tween the shoulders, yet SO perfect is their