The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-28
ALL ABOUT FURS.
Where They Come From. Where They
Are Dressed and Dyed. Each
Country Has a Specially.
The Difference Between
the Genuine and
the Imitation.
An I-ters.t,nE and Valuable Mass or Inror
mstlon from . Leading Manufacturer.

The entire world looks to America for its sup
ply OF standard furs. Mink. Otter, Seal, Beaver,
Marten, and Chinchilla are all at their best In
this country. The only furs that Europe fur
nishes are Russian Sable, Persian Lamb, Astra-
khan, Squirrel. and Ermine. and the only advan-
tagc England can offer is in tho character OF the
dye of the Seal. In this respect no other nation
has been able to compete with England, whereas
America dyes Otter and Beaver better than any
other nation, and Germany dyes Persian Lamb
and Astrakhan better than other nation.
BLACK PERSIAN.
Neither England nor America can dye Persian
Lamb skins well. Americans, however, have at
tempted to dye Persian skins, but up TO date
they have not been successful. The skins lack
the beautiful gloss of the German dye and the
pelt Ia dressed In such a manner that the dye
makes II brittle, consequently they will not wear
more than two or three seasons, whereas the
German.dyed Persian skins will wear from six
to eight years and always retain their pristine
beauty. There are a great many garments man.
ufactured from American-dyed Persian skins
offered in this market, and they can be pur-
chased ut about one-half the cost Of the genuine
Leipeic dyed. | hope. however. that In the near
future America will be able to dye Persian, Seal.
and other furs as well as it does Otter and
Beaver. but until that time does come I will not
sell any furs except those which are dressed and
dyed properly by the nations which excel in
their specially. The American-dyed otter, tho
English-dyed Sealskin, and the German-dyed
Persian Lambskins are the best. America, how
ever. surpasseJ all other nations in dressing the
pelts Of natural furs. And as European furs
are imported In the raw state free OF duty the
American manufacturer can compete with the
European.
SKINS SHOULD BE PROPERLY DRESSED.
1t is important that all skins used for manu-
featuring be thoroughly dressed. and It is to be
regretted that more attention Is not paid to this
important factor. Garments made from prop
erly cured and dressed skins will wear well and
retain their color and beauty. while garments
made from poorly dressed skins soon fade. shed
the fur. and get shabby looking after being
worn a short time.
DYEING FURS.
The art Of dyeing furs has reached such a high
state of perfection that the commonest kind can
be made 10 look like the genuine. Rabbit skins
are dyed to look like Seal and are advertised
as Electric Seal. Muskrat skins are dyed TO
look like Seal and are called Canada seal.
opossum is pluckod and also DYED to look like
Seal, and Is called China Seal. Coon skins arc
dyed to initiate Alaska Sable and are called
black Marten. Natural Muskrat is advertised
as Brook Mink. Muskrat costs 10 to 20 cents.
while the genuine Mink costs from 81 10 81
per skin. IL 10 TO be regretted that merchants
who advertise will not call things by their right
names.
BELIEVES IN ADVERTISING.
/ believe in advertising. In this rapid age
unless one does advertise he will soon lose hs
identity In the commercial world, but | do not
pay money for advertisements that are contrary
to facts. What is tho use of advertising to sell
- = -
person knows that It cannot be done. The same
holds good with regard TO reliable merchandise.
II the public want Il good article 1t must expect
TO pay the value, and the best place to buy Is
where II Is manufactured.
FUR BUYERS DEMORALIZED.
There are so many different kinds OF mer-
chants advertising furs under so many new
names (names which never appeared In natural
history or tine encyclopedia up TO date and at
prices of the imitation, while the genuine name
is used, that It is no wonder the ladies become
demoralized and hardly know whom TO believe
or where to buy. There is one fact. however.
that all must admit, and that is that a good
article cannot DO purchased at the price OF a
poor one.
VARIETY STORES CRITICISED.
IL is impossible for merchants who deal In
dry goods, books, hardware. shoes, carpets.
furniture, upholstery. drugs, groceries, furs,
&c, to be thoroughly informed on everything
they sell, especially furs. There is no class OF
goods which requires so much knowledge as
furs. which knowledge is obtained only from
long experience. The variety store buyers go
through the market, not 10 look for the best,
but for something cheap. IL matters not how
poorly made if II has q handsome exterior and
can be advertised TO undersell their neighbors,
and they often advertise goods at less than the
first cost of production. and yet they are grow
ing rich all the time!
These variety stores buy furs from mAnufac-
turers who make a profit, and they in turn sell at
aproht, hence the customer who buys there pays
two profits, and Is not always sure of getting the
fur she expected. l do not imputs dishonesty TO
any OF the merchants who deal In everything,
but l do claim that they are not judges OF furs.
Many OF the ill-htting, shabby looking rments
that are worn come from these variety stores.
A fur manufacturer who values his reputation
would rather lose a sale than sell a poor article.
ask, in view OF these facts, II a lady desires TO
purchase, is 1t not better to go 10 a reliable man
ufaeturer than to run the risk OF purchasing
from those houses who deal In everything2 Las
dies who are good judges. who have worn fur
for a number OF years, can detect a variety chop
not go TO the variety shops TO buy their furs.
1t Is only the inexperienced who depend upon
the size OF the establishment and the advertise
ments which appear In the newspapers who pur-
chase their furs at those places which deal in
everything under the sun.
OTTER AND SEAL
Otter and Sealskin garments manufactured by
me were awarded highest prizes at the Worlds
Fair. am this season making over to the new
shape otter garments which | sold twelve years
ago and Seal garments which | sold eight years
ago.
buy in large quantities in the fur centres Of
the world. manufacture on my own premises at
small expense, and offer Sealskin, Otter, and
Persian Lamb garments. Chinehilla,, ETmine,
and all other fashionable furs. elegantly finish
ed, and In the latest style. at the lowest possible
prices at which reliable goods can be mAnufac-
tured, and while | keep Electric COney Capes
(which are called Electric Seal. and sell them at
low prices, | do not recommend them. nor put
my name to that class OF goods.
A GUARANTEE OF RELIABILITY.
Any garment which bears my name VII
guarantee. And | claim, without fear Of cO4-
tradiction, that l am better prepared this sea-
son than any other reliable house In America 10
offer hrst-elass furs At low prices, for the TeH-
son that mine was the only establishment thu
worked its factory during the panic last sun