The Bessemer indicator., 1894-03-17
SWELL APPAREL.
Ways That Are Dark and Tricks That
Are Win In Dress Making.

Are vain In Dvsss- Making.
"If you will promise never under
sny circurnstantes to give me away
i will tell you great secret" said
one of her most fashionable friends
to young Mrs, Noodles the other day.
Hope ! MAJ die. as the small boy
says" was tho rejoinder.
"Well, then, only two Of the gowns
have brought back from Paris were
really made by Worth. The rest
are all counterfeits.
"Goodness! What do you mean9"
at is all the doing oi ny French
maid. Annette. She was awfully
sharp, YOU know. and it was lucky
thing for me that | picked her up
across the water. There isn't any
sharp lodges she is not up to. be-
lieve. But the one | am going to tell
you about was really worth grea.
deal OF money to me-"
al am breathless."
well, you see, | had made up my
mind to get a number OF really hand
some dr. sses. but my husband de-
clared that tho bill must not exceed
81, 900. which he thought was very
liberal. But. OF course, as you know
very well, such sum would not go
very far at the shop of great Par
isian artist So | had to try and
figure things ont pretty closely.
Annette came to the rescue"
with an idea?"
with most valuable idea She
suggested that l should take her
| ttyi ,,h I -
makers | decided to order two
gowns, and for that purpose | was
going to the shop to look at a num-
ber OF sample dresses. These pat
tern gowns, as they are called, are
\ kept in stock to show to customers,
in order that the latter may de-
termine what they want. Prelim-
inarily Annette put me through a
regular course OF instructions. Said
she:
"'Madame, there is way to man
age this sort of thing which is
adopted by the most fashionable la
dies. 1t is understood that you bring
your maid with you in order that she
may help you with anything that
has to be tried on, and that you
never allow any other woman to as
sist with your apparel. Now, you
must be sure to look at as many
gowns as possible before coming to a
decision, and when anything strikes
you favorably you must tell me. OF
course it would not be possible that
you should do this openly, because
the dressmakcr would sec that we
| tcip hi- io1 l.,
which to construct costumes at home.
That. you see, is the object we have
In view
"'But how can tell you without
speakingP' l asked.
"'It is very simple, madame said
Annette. we must have code OF
signals. When you drop your hand
kerchief it is to call my attention to
the hang OF a skirt You cough, and
| | understand that am to take notice
| OF sleeve. You rub your nose, and
that conveys an order to me that
shall FIX in my mind the trimming of
waist. You may be very sute that
! shall forget nothing. In this way
1 shall havo mental memoranda of
everything that pleases you most in
the stock OF the costumer AS soon
US We get home 1 will put it all down
on paper. You know that am a
skillful dressmaker, and, being able
to initiate what see can make for
you number of gowns which will be
admirable. You buy two costumes
and you get dozen or more. You
have the benefit OF all the artists
best suggestions and 1t will do no
harm to permit your friends to sup
pose that all of the dresses are from
his atelier.
"Well. my dear, carried out the
plan in detail, and all the beautiful
gowns which you just examined were
made at home by Annette and my
self. with tho exception OF the blue
and the gray. They are the origin
| ais.