The times., 1897-11-14

cans are registered. She is the friend
of the nTopri etors of those hotels the
wealthy westerners frequent. and sha
has her eye on the lists Of incoming
steamers The second, but more probably
tie s.-., n,..-.In- of goa. 49,, g.. =. .,-,.s
as you arr combing out your hair, ther.,
n knock and, at your word cf adrais
sion' in pops. Lot the maid but plump,
well-gowrec creature, whose bright blue
or black ey Is meet yours withgay determin
alton.
before son have time to take breath
she has slipped in ahead of you and
Ia pidly IN go0h English is debating
present styles being just suitable t.
your figI ne and that she would like L.
show
But eta not III Paris fer cl1thes
have 80 :.ioney to spend that way" yOU
begin, in SoIic anger and aStOnishment
"ExactIeci exactlee! Madame need not
buy, bGt at least it will ainuse madame to
look al few pretty things, merely t. pass
the time nothing more, and before any
fresh protest can be offered, a big hamper
is opehcG, and the chairs and sofas are
covered with glory cf color In five min
suaded madame To tryon one or two little
things. There is no urging to purchase, no
vulgar insistence and flattery, and yet
when the modIste takes her leave her lips
are wreathed iii smiles, and cne, two or
even more, orders are jotted down ia her
little black book
over ana over again the comedy is acted,
the dressmakers of Importance going them.
selves or sending their most diplomatic EN-
issaiics 10 the great hotels, While the
humber ni0diSte haunts the modest pension,
each in search of her respective and legiti-
mate Guarry. In the eSta blishments IF the
notabl, dreSsmakers and milIiners women
are kept Oh high salaries merely to make
the rounds of the hotels and TO display suffi-
cient Temptations 10 bring the poor, weak
American Ewes later TO the maison ON such
and such street.
If II is impossible 10 bribe the hotel maid
or gain permission Iegitimately TO a tray
eler's room, a drummer for dressmaker
by no means gives up her game, and the
fayorite trick is TO send up a faultless
visiting card bearing the name La CDm
tess Blank and street number With the
card goes message that the countess, in
the name of madame friend, Mrs. So and
SO, of New York, begs a private interview.
Now where is the American woman who
would refcse a countess an interview, anu
where j. the woman who win stop u
think that at l 2 Rue Quatre septembre.
her friend in New York probably has her
gowns made. or course tie interview is
granted and the Countess appears beaming,
her vast box Of gowns on her arm, and SO
skilIfully does she talk, smile. display .lid
delicately, o, 50 Gelicately, hint at the
beauties of madame's figure that the de-
ception and impertinence are forgiven and
the bogus countess goes off with one more
fish on her line.
Even into private houses a quick witted
woman VIII gain her way, brushing past
the maid or butler al door, with the
confident assurance that she has come 20
fitthe American lady guest by appointment
ard thus gaining the all-important point,
rog hut let ore CT these cunning creatures
gam hearing and alrea dy she hasher hand
on the pocketbook OF her victim. She can
task anger into smiles, obdurate refusal
into con- ession; an ugly woman into the
idea that her sure chance OF beauty lies
a Ffruch gown, while of .niser Sue
can make a veritatlc spendthrift.