The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-12
THE VAR AND FRENCH MILLINERY.
Tire "NIninsry Trade ReVieW'' Decent no
IIeys tho noNcott VIII Amennt 20 Much.


The attitude Of certain French journals since
the beginning OF the Spanish mericHn war has
aroused the patriotic feelings Of women's clubs
In various parts OF this country to such an OK
tent that several Of these organizations have
voted to boycott French millinery. 1t Is not
fair to the intelligence Of French shopkeepers to
assume that the nows OF this action was respon-
sible for their change Of front as expressed by
the French newspapers. 1t was the loss Of
tho trade of visiting Americans that was
feared, and not tho possibility that American
women might hereafter cover their heads with
hats OF home manufacture. Tho last number
of tho Millinery Trade ReUistr, while protest
ing against any proposed boycott Of French
goods on the ground that 1t would be beneath
our dignity to notice tho vaporlngs Of q fow
foreign jingoes. says:
The boycott Of French goods would be al
most impossible of accomplishment, as the pub
lie could be easily deceived by placing tickets
thereon stamped American manufacturer
which would nullify all efforts of "A boycott.
This refers to piece goods. should our patriotic
American women presume TO carry their boycott
to such length. There is very little imported
trimmed millinery after all consumed In the
United States In comparison to the vast quanti-
ties sold. The importers, wholesale dealers.
and retailers, when visiting Paris. secure
models, or pattern hats, to show the
new materials, the latest mode in ad-
justing trimmings. and combining new colors
and shades and for copying In the workrooms.
These cost from one to two hundred francs each
In Paris. With duty and expenses added, the
hat costing 100 francs in Paris will cost, in a
round sum, $40 in America. Whom those have
served thoir purpose they are sold on an aver
aye of $40 each first, cost. Many a Virot,
ticketed, is the work Of an American artist or
milliner, who takes the French model and sub.
dues II to meet the requirements of modest
q" II the boycotting of French millinery should
become general AS far as the peoples desire to
have a beneficial influence. as 1t would reduce
the number Of retail dealers going abroad pur-
Importer, the Wholesale dealer, and the domes.
tic manufacturer. The materials could be OBJ
tHlned abroad which would be utilized by
ers, who are the equsls of tho Partisan and
London modIstes In designing. making, and
trimming .womon's headwoar, would receive
I'VE are very much inclined to believe that
our American women, rs a whole, are not suf-
f~ciently patriotic to curb their Unsuitable de-
sircs to wear anything and everything foreign.
II they would Inaugurate a reform in the foreign
purchasing habit and secure all their wants at
home from our own loyal American merchants,
they would he comforting a lasting benefit upon
succeed In doing this, their boycott would be
successful and the importers; Wholesale deal.
sumers. would be prosperous. There would be
less complaint among the importers Of whole.
sale dealers Ignoring the American importer
and buying in Europe; more business done by
the Wholesalers themselves. and much money
saved by the milliner who prefers to buy goods
at home. but is forced to go abroad by un.
American customers, who cannot wear any but
q French hat. and who will not patronize mil
liners who have no reputation for selling for.
eign.made millinery, In the main. a boycott OF
foreiRn.trimme millinery would be beneficial
to the trade in Its entirety. Watch the RESULT
This same RerteiD says that the utterances OF
a few French journals which have m~aligned
this country do not represent public sentiment
in France, and in connection with this the ex
perience OF a Now York woman who has just re-
turned from Paris Ia interesting:
AT one of the theatres where l ' went" she
said. "a bIograph displayed a great variety OF
pictures. Several Of them wero Of American
scenes, and when theSe were thrown on the
screen there was hixAipg all over the housc.. One
OF these scenes represented" the Brookiyn Navy
Yard. and as soon as 1t was announced the whole
audience seemed TO join In the kissing. l was
thoropghly disguised; French people are mer
with the change OF, ssntiment in their news
papers, they may shout just as hard for the
United States as they did for Spain. My own
experiences. however, were not so pleasant that
should advise Americans to go to Paris before
tho war 10 over"