The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-22

fit the second person with the same per-
lection as they did the original owner and
the new owner is rarely able to afford the
expense OF hiring a first-class modiste to
make the needful alterations.
A majority of the rich society women
pursue the same plan for getting rid Of
their surplus finery. This plan pleases
them, because II furnishes a trihe Of
amusement and some OF the excitement
akin to being in business.
There are a half-dozen clever women in
New York, who are making small-sized
fortunes by buying up these "hand-me-
downs" of swelldom; furnishing them up
and selling them again to three classes of
| customers. These latter form the most in
teresting feature OF the unique industry
but more of them later.
When madame finds too many gowns
and wraps and hats on hand, she calls
her maid and instructs that functionary
to drop a line to Mrs. Costumer, asking
her to call the next morning, at II. Mrs
Costumer is promptly on hand, a plainly
dressed woman of 10, with business
written in every line of her face and on
every crease In her gown.
The maid meets her and escorts her up
to madame's boudoir. Madame Is reclin-
| ing ON a couch, looking pensively at
pile Of fnery. Mrs. Costumers eyes
| drink In the beauties of the pile, but she
doesn't show it. Not she; that wouldn't
be business. She puts on her spectacles
calmly, and thrusts her hand into the
pile.
When II energies 1t brings with II what
could be truthfully described as '1ove of
a tea gown green cashmere lined
| throughout with heavy white silk. and
| with huge front of white crepe.
Madame eyes it dreamily and turns to
her maid. What did that cost, Amy?"
1.-TWO hundred dollars, madame"
But it's dfeadfuly worn now" from
Mrs Costumer. There isn't a speck on II,
but that doesn't make particle of differ
| ence to the lady Of business.
"Why / could not have worn 1t more
| than three or four times, and / am sure
IL cannot be badly soiled"
"You have worn It three times, mad
anne" from Amy.
"Wel something has surely happened
| to IT," says Mrs. Costumer. II cannot
| give more than 81 for 1t, and even then
may lose money. 1t will cost a pretty
penny to fix 1t up, and II 1t were not for
| the fact that / have in mind lady whose
| figure is very similar to yours. madame,
/ would not risk paying more than 81 for
it,"
.'Who is the lady, Mrs. Costumer?" In
| quires madame. forgetting all about the
| main point at issue.
"She Is Mrs. c., playing the leading
role IN "A Battle Of Hearts,"
"Oh, yes. Well, 1 suppose you must
take 1t for ST."
Mrs. Costumer lays IL on one side. She
knows that the crepe never cost a penny
under $l2 a yard, and the silk surely cost
"a.
In time the whole pile was gone through,
Mrs. Costumer paying an average Of one
twentieth, or one-thirtieth OF what the
hnery cost. 1t was certainly good days
work for her, but the expression on her
solemn, cold face never betrayed the fact
When she had gone madame figured up
the pile OF crumpled greenbacks which
Mrs. CoStumer had deposited on a table
She counted S67.
Il don't think that Mrs. Costumer got
the better OF me this morning, Amy"
mo, madame. Those things she bought
only cost $780," observed the astute
Amy.
What does Mrs. Costumer do with the
finery? She sells II for Eve ana six, and
sometimes for ten, times what she paid
for It. Actresses are her best customers
Through Mrs. Costumer stage women
are able to buy hrst-class gown for $50
that they could not get In a shop for $500
They are clever in adapting the gowns
to their figures and know well how to
freshen them up so that they look like
new.
Actresses are not her only customers.