The evening times., 1897-05-24
MILLIONAIRE bR|CE SUED
Mary w. Paxien, a NeedIewOman,
the Complainant.
WANTS PAY FOR WORK DONE
The ex-Senat0r'S Wife Ordered Mou-
ograms and Other Embroidery
Work on Fine Table Linen-Wben
the Bill Was Presented She Re
fused Payment.

An interesting suit has been filed be-
fore the supreme court OF the District of
Columbia, in which former United states
senator, a social lion and a great raj ilToad
ma snate is made the Defendant, aud the
plaintiff modest and retiring needle
woman of slender means. The casus belli
is a quantity of fine table linen ordered
ny the wife. one of washingtoa's most
ultra and exclusive society matrons. The
plaintiff III the suit is Mrs. Mary w.
Paxton, Il fine art neediewGrker, and the
defendant is Calvin S. Brice, The multi
millionaire and general allround man Of
fashion
1t seems that Mrs. Paxton received CT
ders during the months OF January. Feb
ruary, and March for pieces OF fine table
linen for the Brice table. and that she was
compelled to secure the services OF many
needleYenaeIi III order to have the work
completed in a style and finish in keeping
with the exalted social rank OF her wealthy
patron.
On account OF the peculiar nature OF
the work, and the fact that many mono
grams had TO be worked in tise linen The
bill was $42S so, and when presented 20
Mrs Price, she intli gnantly refused 20 Tay
it. EaYing that she was being dnpos@d
upon. She was informed OF the delicate
nature of the work tedious efforts thai werr
required ia order TO do id satisfactorily,
but she siouilF declined 10 pay the bill
The little woman who did the work is u
quiet, unotstTusive person, and She made
many attempts TO secure 4 payment OF
the bin. I,reierTing to do il IA such a man
nPr as would not bring the latter into
publicity, bat all ler efforts were HuaEail-
ing and she was Obliged finally to pro
ceed to enter silit for the recovery VI the
amount OF the bin
in her petition, filed at the clerk &
office, the mOdest little woman states that
she made an itc-IIized bill of the articles
furnished Mrs Hrice, and show ed that ON
account of the special designs ordered,
she was co8pelled h eXpend S3lS-59.
The work occupied more than two mouths
Of close snd patient attention, and she
was compelled to purchase large amount
of the material to do tBe work. Sine Tuade
repeated applications for settlement OF
her bill. but was refused. and as q last
recourse was Compelled 10 ask the relief
OF the courts.
Accompan wing her petition is an iten-
aei statement of the goods furnished ami
their riagnifioence and effeieness viii
bring tears Of envy TO the orbs Of he many
ambitious matrons OF Capital swelldom
Among the articles furnished are the fol-
lowing:
January / ). onelace tea cloth. two mono
grams. SIS: January l5. one lace tea in
serticn. two monograms. Sl1 %; January
Il, one dozen napkins mon grams, S4S;
January Is, two tabiecovrrs, -four mono
grams, S2i so: January 10, one dozen
napkins IsoaograruS, SIS February &c,
one dan3ask heTRstitched cover. u,ODogTaIH.
Ss- February Is one dozen napkins. mono
grams, S4S. February s, one tafaeClo'h,
Sil p; February is, one dozen napkins
monogr,--ns, s4S. March ! -. onetai,is~ooycF.
two nfOaoEraus. 81 g; March o, one dozen
napkius. IlaonogrHnS, S5S, March he. one
iaaheoorRf. two ITfanograIlis, SO, MarcH
40 one Dozen napkins. IuonoFTaH,s. $50;
March H. one tablcCover, one monogram,
s.: March II, one dozen napkins. muno-
grams, $50.
The suit has created no little gossip in
the puTiieuS Of the swell West End, and
4nenv 2 nj startling are the stories tfas are
being told in polite and mysterious whis-
pers over the afternoon tea cups or under
| the spreading branches OF the Hunt club
grounds
Little did the many chosen ones who
placed their knees beneath the mahogany
Gf the massive banquet table and spread
the damaSks before them think that wi thin
a few weaks thatpart OF the table decora-
/ tons would be .TUthlessiy dragged before
the vulgar eyes OF an eager and cUriuts
courtroom crowd.
When the case CORES up for trial the
! CITY Hail viii no doubt resemble a sete
occasion, on account OF the society DANES
aud damsels who VIII be called on 60
hand in their opinions regarding the fine
/ ness OF the damasks and the delicacy of
the stitches, the value Of which has
caused such an upheaval within the sacred
precincts OF the high and naughty
Messrs- Howe Totten and J. Spaulding
Flannery represent the plaintiff.