The evening times., 1898-05-20
AGAINST FRENCH GOODS
Women Of Fashion May Declare
a Boycott on Things Partisan.
IMPORTERS ARE UNCERTAIN
They Find Growing Disposition
Amcng American Women to Fa-
yor Erslfsh and Domestic NIL.
linery and Fabrics-Some Danes
Will Have Paris-Made Gowns.

St Louis Mo-, May 20.-On account OF
this city being essentially German-Ameri-
can, st. Louis is not affected to any mark
ed degree by the boycotting of French
goods. Still a heavy cloud hangs over
what Partisan wares are handled by re-
tailers, and it is a safe guess that the
women here will prove every bit as pa
triotic as those of the East.
"If France continues in her demonstra-
ton against the United States" said w.
II. Zukoski. an importer. "a boycott will
undoubtedly be instituted by the high
minded women of America and will be
followed by everybody. to the future de-
triment of French goods
Leo Lewis, president of the Levis-Zu-
-koski Mercantile Company. is now in Ger
many. He has been advised of the grow
ing public sentiment against France, and
this will no doubt influence his Fall pur-
chases in Paris-purchases that annually
approximate half a million francs.
l. Il. Rosenthal, a large importer of mil
linery goods, will wait. and, II need be.
show u preference to German. English
and domestic goods.
1t is evident an anti-French feeling has
manifested itself in the retail stores On
the millinery floors of Scruggs. Hillman
& Co. and other large department stores
women discuss the subject with flashing
eyes and indignant language.
''Retrim my hat in the American fash
ion,'' said wealthy woman of the west
end, who had made a recent purchase in
Continental millinery. and the dainty
humming bird and costly artificial flow
ers were accordingly rearranged to suit
a quieter and more patriotic taste.
The Spring season has closed, and the
Fall trade, will commence about Septem-
Der ). During the interim fashionable
women may hope that France will mend
her ways, but the men who supply the
st. Louis retailers are closely watching
developments, and if the present feeling
continues indications are that domestic
goods will experience a boom in the Fall
at the expense of those made in France.
Chicago. H., May 20.-Chicago women,
in the main. do not propose TO boycott
French goods because France sides with
Spain in the present war.
Patriotism on the part of the women
of Chicago, so far, consists in sending the
men to the front, but French gowns and
other creations will continue to be worn.
Chicago women will offer the usual en-
couragement to French manufacturers
and nnodistes and buy what they desire
in the French capital.
Mrs. H. o. Stone, one Of the leaders of
the ultra-fashionabie set, said: For
years 1 have had French gowns. and /
shall continue to have them. The agfta-
tion of such subject as boycotting goods
of any particular country seems out of
place now in the presence Of such horrors
as war makes inevitable. Besides, what
shall we do about our own Chicago mer-
chants. whose counters are filled with
French materials?
mo, shall not join any American Wo-
mans Patriotic League with the purpose
of deserting the French dressmaker. ]
shall wear French gowns always If we
must have war, let US also have French
gowns"
Mrs. Fernando Jones said: IT shall not
boycott French manufactures of any kind
I think 1t hardly fair to do SO In the alb
sence of really accurate Information of
the subject of Frances enmity toward u.s.
I imagine the case Is not so bad as some
of the smaller French papers have stated
In my opinion 1t is only the rabble among
the French that are opposed to u.s. 1 have
always found the educated people there
intense admirers of Americans"
Mrs. William ]. Chalmers agrees with
Mrs. Stephen Elkins and Mrs. Russell A.
Alger and Mrs. Lyman ]. Gage, who are
among the Washington contingent willing
to join the proposed league.
''The French ought to be shown that we
resent their churlishness in this crisis
said Mrs. Chalmers. What IL they do
lose through their Investments in Spain?
Is not the money Americans pour into
their Golfers every, year of some use to
them? I would join any league Instituted
to deny women indulgence in French
gowns, but osnot suppose that a large
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