The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-21
THE MAN AND THE MILLINBR.
Worth Sues London Corsetmaker
Who Taxes His Name.
From the London Times.

From the London Times.
The name of Worth is of world wide
celebrity. 1t is borne by gentleman who
proudly and rightly describes himself as
"the well-known costumier" His business
was first established in Paris in the year
1858, and for many years he and his son.
who succeeded him on bis retirement, have
been recognized, the world over, as the
most celebrated dressmakers in Europe In
the world of fashion the name Of Worth is
a word of uurivaled power.
Gescon Worth, the present active
head of the business, proudly declared in
court that, with the exception of her most
gracious majesty, he had supplied dresses
to all the queens in Europe. OF the queens
of society, of the drama, and of song there
are probably few who have not found it ex-
pedient to proclaim and certify their roy
atty by wearing the costumes Of Worth
But in order TO do so they had to go to
Paris for their dresses. Mr.. Worth though
he bad many customers in this country
never had a place of business here, but con-
tented himself with employing an agent to
collect his bills.
Nevertheless, a way was found some
years ago by an ingenious gentleman, now
deceased, whereby those who care more
about names than things could obtain the
costumes of Worth" without going to
Paris or doing business with the celebrated
man whom his tiRttering Imitator subse-
quently declared to be 'the first dressmaker
in Europe" In 1879 a certain Miss Carlson,
afterward the wife of Capt. Hubert Brad
ley, opened a business in Hanover street as
a maker of corsets for both sexes, sub
sequently removing TO Bond street, where
her business Is still carried on.
By q singular coincidence, which in
natural history would probably be regarded
as q remarkable instance Of protective
mimicry, while students of human nature
might see in it an evidence Of design, Miss
Carlsen's husband selected for the business
name OF the concern the title of Worth ct
Gle. Why he did so we shall never know,
as Capt. Bradley is dead and his widow pro-
fesses to be unable to say.
She does know why the words let Gle -
were added, however, and the reason is a
very ingenious one. The words were added
mot to represent that she was connected
with French house, but partly to dis
tingush Der house from the plaintiffs and
partly because it is a general custom in her
class of business to trade as a company, and
1t is very usual to adopt foreign name"
To Mr.. Worth's earlier remonstrances she
replied that she had no Intention OF selling
dresses or costumes, adding. with a con-
summate blending of fiattery and self-es-
TEEN, "He is the first dressmaker In Europe.
as we are the first CO.. setmakers" But cir
cumstances were too strong for Worth ct
Gle" Even before she removed to Bond
street Mrs Bradley began to make and sell
dresses and costumes. We may perhapa
conjecture that some Of her less scrupulous
customers, realizing that the name of
Worth might be as valuable to them as IL
was to her, insisted on having dresses made
by her. and that Mrs Bradley was too en-
terpTiei8g q woman Of business to decline
On her removal to Bond street she sent
out circulars 70 her customers announcing
that her firm had no connection with Worth
the costumer of Paris, but she subsequently,
said in so many words, Those who come &c
our house will get Worth for their money. ,