The times., 1897-11-14
NO MODERN IMPROVEMENTS
Pneumatic Tubes, Cash Girls or
EIeciricnI Appliances Are Not in
Csr- Rich Americans. Patronize
Small establishments Partisan
Dres~ makers Rule supreme.


OF Uncle sam concludes when she goes
to Paris to do her shopping. Her natural
expectation always is TO drive at once
20 jhe famous Avenue de Fopera or Rue
de Ia Paix, and there open long, happy
Gays stoning through gorgeous emporiunis
where al tne de;ectable Bargains o. the
season viii be spread forth for her inspec-
ton.
As d matter OF fact, there are only -four
large ,lry .oods stores in all Paris, namely
the Naeazin de Louvre; the Bon Marche
of world wide tame: the Trois Quarters.
aud the Pnntemps From an American
point - view, they are decidedly inferior
buildings, set in rather inaccessible guar
tiers UI thecity ana lot fTequented byeithec
the wealthy or exclusive Americans OF
PausiauS The managers Of these huge
houses have, moreover, taken no pains 20
EXHIBIT their goods in an attractive manner.
The vast sl,uT windows are duttered and
dlsordery, TO deftness or neatness is ex-
pended iu Arranging wares, while the
ners,us, expeditions loving American wo-
man isotten broughtto theyerGeof tears By
the archaic methods of making change or
one OF th. many ridiculCus iron-clad rules
and regulations,
Pneumatic tubes cash girls, OF electric
baskets are al unknown 10 or scoTned by
The Partisan merchant. II a spool OF
this D. bought, the clerk, on conelud-
ing the I-.rcilase, leaves his counter and
leads the customer TO a desk. THere he
and she stand IN line and take their turn
al filing past q brazen voiced bookkeeper
aud assistant In stentoTian tones tine
salesman relates the nature and amount
q the purchase, the bookkeeper, who is
evidently chosen as much for the strength
of IBIS lungs, a. has knowledge or matlc-
matiCS. repeats this informa tiOn to his as
sistant no wraps up the article, files
tie sale check and then the purchaser is
pushed iu front OF the desk 10 Ia down her
money and get her change. IN mild yell
the boui-kocper counts ont The change, and
II tbe parcel Is TO re sent, or forwarded
{ o. d. the bUokkeeper softly bellows
f,rlh naIne and number as he Iegisters
them ia has book.
WBen this complicated process is over the
salesman escapes again to his counter, aid
thc shopper. th!Hking 10 obyiate constant
repetition OF the sceue, asks for Il card.
TIE Ilau % the Gesk sJsres and shakes his
head: such a convenience Is not known IN
the Pari>iai, tlcpa rtment store, where there
Is slso NO system OF passenger elevators 1T
all els, sul ouc plodGinG little iron basket,
v hich h,lda only five persons and treu-
llingIy crewls between the floors II
comes Ike shock 10 the American to learn
that unly ON certain days between certain
hours car she hope tu secure samples; that
nc collections are made on delivery unless
one a. purchasing goods Of value over s.,
arc that at The ribbon counter no goods are
ever sold by the yard, but by the piece.
AL l.te-e are dra awbacks surely. and yet
the PHr.siau department shop is full OF
compenSat ions. Nearly every clerk speaks
good EL-l.su, lc is passionaJely, almost
drar4 4a,icalIy, Interested in the shoppers
purchases, auti 10 American eyes bargains
cf the I.icsi irresistible nature lie qbout on
all sides They are not, however, bargains
In silks. ribbons, sun shades underwear,
gowns. " raps or millinery of the nrwes5 -
most elegant style. Indeed, il is next to
Impossible 10 20 into any Partisan dry
goods STORE aLC buy dress pattern in
Six % Tie larcst color AID weave. yr a
dozen yards of rich woolen goods, in the
style OF thC season with the most up-to-
dat brad and ribbons, gloves and Chir-
fons 10 match.
For ali these things it is necessary to
go 10 the small shops and to the dress
makers. 1t is TO the small shops that
the riCn Americans and the modern
Pau~ians give their patronage for every
article OF wearing apparel except COS
tunes
These tiny boutiques or ateIiers, as
they are called, are an interesting fea-
ture OF Paris They have made the
glory or the Avenue de l'Opera, the Rue
de la PaiX and the handsome bouIe-
wards. Ia every one some woman OF
man labOrs 10 supply the luxurious femi-
nine public with a special garment Of
extreme beauty In one only SILK under
skirts are made, another is known to the
rich women OF two continents for its hand
kerchiers only, and the proprietors Of
these amy establishments Will either receive
a customer IN the shop, or, if patron
sends word that she would Ike TO look
over some Of the stock in trade at her
hotel, boxes Of goods are made ready and
sent, under the care OF a clever Ia l5er,
Tor Hadanie sinspection.
Tier are numbers Of luxury loving
America women who bay extensively
ia Paris without ever putting foot in
shop, aud yet are admirably fitted and
suited % riatcver they may wish. 1t is
Tire Partisan drcssma ker, however who
rui-s eunrcIGe in The world of trade ana
fashion Size deals directly with the
great mGnufactur OF silks. stuffs, and
ribbons Though yOu cannot go to d
PaTiSian s,iopp and buy the materials for
an elcGgut gown, merely drop a aint to
your drez maker, and She wiz bring forth
s7r- f Ffff7 2 f10 T.f
and uas. splendid weaves. Because she
holds t.e trade in her hands, the manu-
fac1prer- find IL more profitable To iake
her orders anc iet her act the part of in
termelitry between themselves and the
Nvuinen iU~ cad nf The large shops.
1t is curious system, hut it seems 10
give great satisfaction to everyone con-
cernea aE1 Tui lhe American women ii is
q delightful experience to sit before
JaLle, spread with samples, bits of lily-
ton, hatipus, Innings, braids, fiinges. Iaces.
etc aul slowly evolve delicious crea-
non from thc chaos, in place Of rushing
from shop 10 shop trying TO decide what
;hc a1timpo-taHt gown shall be. Should n
wOn,sn prefer not to visit her dressmaker's
establishment, she has but to drop a line.
aud 10 bcr house OF hotel samples Sketches
and d. Gel gowns win be readily taken,
aud y hat is more. all the fittings can be
mad at hor2e, for the Partisan modiste Ia
the must thrifty. oblging creature in the
world. OF course, she looks upon slI
American women as her legitimate prey,
ana bY Ycheeuulauoacity and imperturbable
coed temper she almost Invariably brings
TO bag any bird she has her eye on.
Beside her schemes for catching and
holding customers and wringing the last