The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-09
SPRY MODELS NOWADAYS.

In setting ON the Good Points or Wares
Variety or the Goods sold by Women-Einb
crate Procedure or Foreign
The demonstrator is to tho front now. There
are demonstrators of household appliances,
demonstrators Of food products and medical
appurtenances. demonstrators of wearing ap.
parel, demonstrators of everything under
the sun except matrimony, and the tenant
able qualities of flats and apartments to let.
You may notice q bustlinR, MISUNDERSTANDING
woman ~rustling about almost any boarding
house nowadays, and you are told. on making
inquiry as to her calling or OCCUPATION. that she
is a demonstration. Whether it is some newly
invented contraption for light housekeeping, or
a new face mask, or complexion wash. demon
strated on one side of her own face and the back
Of one hand, whether it is a corset. or a combina-
ton garment, or a glove fastener that engages
her efforts. she is certain to be busy.
In the world of wearing apparel 1t used to be
the model upon whom much depended; the
model With so many inches of bust measure to
her credit, SO many inches of waist measure, so
much length of.limb. The model stood like an
inanimate statue and allowed cepes, coats,
street suits. and reception gowns to DO placed
upon her at the will of the saleswoman, taking
really very little interest in the proceeding.
Occasionally she submitted to having a hat
pcrched on her head to see how it went with
the suit. The demonstration is of a different
pattern. She is all alive, all pliancy. A certain
grace OF bearing and movement is as essential
to her calling rs n well-developed figure.
Manufacturers with a new make of corsets to
put on the market, for instance. begin by en-
gaRing a demonstration to show its advantages
to the woman buyer OF a big store. and having
won approval. gets the firm TO give a special
view of the corset. Cards are sent out to Sc
l.-4zl z-, ---. .---
The new corsets and the agile demonstration
have n room to themselves. n room gas lit,
warmed. and properly decorated. where Miss
b., the shapely demonstrators. may shine out as
this opening linen are excluded of course) is left
In the slightest doubt as to how far the bones in
strong and durable they are; their weight.
length. and their special advantages. Miss b.
has three or four other makes of cOrscts at
hand and tries them all on in turn in order the
better to demonstrate the superiority of her
own goods. The demonstrators business is not
all in one direction. She must be as quick to
show the weak points in rival wares as to ex-
hibit the rare qualifications of her own.
The guests at the special view are not alone
been sent 10 representative trade journals in the
manufacturers interests, and these papers send
Representatives Of retail houses in other cities
are also on hand. Miss ID. has enough spectators
to give her inspiration in her task.
As with corsets, so with everything new in the
way Of women's wear. whether outer or under
garments. No longer though is the model or
the demonstration u mere lay figure. The new
style demonstration who tries on a gown or q
coat, must walk well and enter into the spirit Of
her business. displaying to the best advantage
certain ms and outs of the garment that other
wise might pass unnoticed.
"A good demonstrators can sell any amount Of
goods that otherwise might be passed over as
unattractive, or Of little worth" said the head
saleswoman in one store. Say q woman comes
exactly what she wants. All our gowns valued
at 800 or more are shown on the dcmonstra-
per may find n costume that suits her In every
respect but for n certain arrangement Of tho
10 may be new in style, and for that reason may
strike her as odd, when in reality it is a great
addition to the costume; The Demonstration
s%poction. She lifts her arms to her head and
puts her figure in graceful poses; she gives the
gown a style that never would have been made
apparent. had IL been put on a wired frame or
an inert model. The idea that the modiste had
in view when she designed the gown is made
plain to The customer. and she decides that il is
really chic and original. and will suit her per.
The demonstrators in the big wholesale
Broadway houses arc kept busy in winter try
ing on thin, unlined summer gowns for the next
fitting jerseys. The out-of-town merchant who
comes in to see the effect OF the new styles may
the demonstrators are usually hearty, healthy
young women who do not suffer from fuctua-
"Trying OH these fimsy. thin things In winter
isn't near as bad as b%undling. up in furs and
heavy, jackets for the trade in the summer
on to say how we'll she liked, the business and
what excellent opportunities she and her mates
had for getting really first class gowns and
coats for much less than actual cost.
a salcsgirl,' she said. "Our hours are shorter,
and we generally get off nj half past 5 the year
round. or course, q demonstration In n whole
sale house Is In much better luck and has less
70 do than one employed in n retail house. In
the months when wa are busy we are rushed to
death, but for n good deal OF the time there is
very little to do ana our wages go on all the
same. August and September are busy months
for us. and from the middle OF january to March
Is the rush SensOn."
1t seems that the animation and power of ex-
preston demanded of the present day demon
that have long been required abroad.
A. the famous outtitiers In Paris and Lon
dom" said n business W. man. Z" there are dem
onstrators not only OF one style, of beauty. but
or all the varying, types.blond, brunette. and
intermediate colorings. One demonstrators will
be tall, slender, and willowy in form; another
Juno-like proportions. The visitor is shown into
"a room that gives no Indications OF the nature
OF the business to he transacted. A few good
pictures and some flowers may he about, but the
furnishings and appointments are very plain, so
as not 10 detract from the gown that is 10 be the
main object of interest.
80 What style of gown does madame require =
has been ass cd at the door; and according to the
kind OF gown desired is the special room into
which the customer is shown. One apartment
Is devoted TO ball and reception toilets, another
to street suits, yet another TO outing costumes
or gowns for house wear. Madame waits In tho
empty room and soon "a demonstrators comes in
and walks quietly about as II looking at the dir
ferent objects In the room. so that the customer
for her benefit. The demOnstratOr IL as near in
appearance to madanle's physical type and col
oring as the assortment OF demonstrators per-
mitted. Every aspect of the gown-sldeWaya,
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