New-York tribune., 1895-10-13

P'S'N~N~~
proper understanding of the situation.
The French drcssmakers charge exorbitant prices
to their American clienes and are fast Killing the
OF the golden egg; for, with all her dlsad-
ventages, the American copies well her imported
models or dcsigns-whch are often better sui'eu 10
the American taste-and for the same price that a
Paris house would charge, and she gives infinitely
better sewing There is no question on TINS point
The French couturieres even admit 1t. but declare
that We sew our gowns to pieces and that they lose
all chic and grace because Of their careful work
manshp. That they better and retain to the
last their and fit seems TO count with thefh lot
little.
DO American-made gowns ht as well as the Paris
ones? is the next question. Yes, II the American
would be as careful as 10 the At and shape OF her
stays and lingerie the Frenchwoman Is ana
would understand what every Frenchwoman under-
stands. that tight fit Is not necessarily or even
often good one.
With al, this there is much to say in favor OF
French originality dash and fitness; but think the
American is prone TO pay too dearly for It,
There is also that uncomfortable system Of
"narchander.' You may Ike n pretty gown valued
at SID By an hours talk and the doing away with
a trhe OF extra trimming you may reduce the price
to $780, but II is resome and. TO our way OF think
ing uncongenia work. and even then you have
paid than the French dame would have paid
for the same gown. From potatoes to bonnets there
are two prIces-one for the American and one for
the canny French buyer.
II the price. then. Is too high, or IL you see
model that pleases you and you leave the place
without buying. you are beseged by train Of fol-
lowers to the door and made to feel like cheat
and an imposter. The French have the greatest
dread of losing the customer OF the moment and
have idea OF the value OF casting bread on the
waters that may return cake
The experience OF a well-known New-York lady
at a Paris couturiere's furnishes case in point
Mrs X had been in mourning for many years, ani
had therefore dropped from the books OF the Paris
couturieres, but she crossed this summer to fit out
a young daughter and a niece both Of whom were
heiresses and the OF entering society. She
the rounds OF the various houses and natural
~ left many orders. She finally entered OF the
best-known and oldest establishments in Paris.
private place that boasts several stages and
probably a hundred hands: but she was then tired
and unable to decide on anything Thanking the as
sistant she got up to go, saying she would doubt
less return when she had made her selections. She
was. OF course, pressed to order. but managed to
leave without giving either her address.
That evening. much her surprise. the shop assist
ant appeared her hotel with patterns and sam
pies and reduced price list. She found that while
she was at the place the niece had spoken of her by
name a quck-eared model caught 1t, and they had
sent porter about to all the hotels in Paris until
they found her. 1t is pity to finish the story by
saying that she purchased peace by giving them an
extensive order.
or course the shops are not such sinners in this
respect. There really only three important large
shops in Paris-the Louvre, the Bon Marche and the
Printemps the last-named being by no means as i'm
portant the other two. In all these places there
are English Interpreters. They valuable If a
person with little knowledge OF French Is having
garment made or leaving an important order; but
all the clerks do their best to pick up few Eng
sh words, which is extremely annoying. They
make a customer shy OF using her little French,
which would probably be much more extensive than
his English and she Is likely to leave with about
half of the things she wished to purchase She
would have done much better with an intelligent
salesman with aspiration in regard to the Eng
sh tongue. and would have LEFT much better salts
fled with herself and with him.
1t Is also a fact that French statesmen lose their
nice when they begin to talk English.
Their equivalent for 'bien. madame" is all right"
with a CHEEKY. rising infection They often get
taken down Bit however. There Is large
American colony in Paris that speaks fluent If
happy go-lucky French, and the salesman, anxious
to air his poor English so that the manager, hear
Ing him. may report him for raise OF salary, some
I mes mistakes its members for timid tourists An
American woman who has lived in France more
wears than her accent would to denote
buying shoestrngs one day at the Louvre. The
sa csman evidently thought ne doing her great
favor and assumed an air OF familiarity as he an
swered her in English regarding prices and coiors:
"Oh," she said You speak English. viii you be
so good as to tell which side Of this depart
ment | may find satin-faced velvet ribbons" He
was beyond his depths, and foundered hopelessly
back to their common tongue.
There are many nice things about the French
shops however Everything is very plainly marked.
and the attendants unless they are trying to speak
English. are courteous and compare favorably with
those in New-York. There IL convenient system
that allows you return two yards Of silk have
anv amount OF stuff cheerfully sent home ION ap-
probate and cheerfuly returned. There Is no
ca sh railroad ard pa yng ones check IS an irrtat-
ing process until the soothing effect OF French air
has Influenced American After making your
purchases at a counter. you follow the salesman
threading his way through the crowd to the nearest
desk You and he may have to wait your turn
there He calls out your purchases. the man at the
desk adds them up. and you pay him. and give him
your address if you wish the bundle sent home
They will send spool Of thread without showing
any surprise and they always thank you for the
purchase and wish you good day. The at the
desk is always too well bred TO speak English un-
less he spoken to-" but is pretty likely to under
stand English numbers. and can help the customer
out II she stumbles in her reckoning
There Is a system something Ike the one that ex-
lists in the large New-York shops of taking a card
on which the different purchases are marked from
counter to counter: only must the desk
that issued the card to pay the whole amount Or |
the purchases may be sent home G. o. d.
The Louvre and Bon Marche have excellent |
prompt and convenient cab system. The cab s 80 |
cf cap In Paris and the bus inconvenient that
average shopper takes voiture by the hour II |
there not some arrangement for disposing Of |
these would never be able to find the cab on |
leaving the store. When you alight your cocher |
gives you his number, printed a sip OF paper |
You may leave the shop by any entrance. give this
paper to the iveried attendant always at the door
and In minute he will appear with your cab. He |
puts you i'm. touches his hat and expects a pourbore
Of two cents. Even rainy day, when the adj |
joining square Is full OF cabs. have seen any
confusion or undue delay resulting from this sys- |
tenn.
The delivery system IS also very good Goods are |
delivered quickly and the porters dressed In |
neat uniforms. and are courteous and obllging
The Bon Marcht or Louvre delivery man inquiries |
your "ttage' from the concierge mounts to your |
'appartement,' and, cap in hand. seems to enjoy |
waiting while You open your package. scrutnize
your bill. and perhaps pay II. He makes change
readily and cheerfully and wishes you good evening
L. a.LI.A a. atI. IL. L..