The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-05-24
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
WOMAN'S WORLD.
: SSGSSSSES SSSGG&GNS GN@G
ONE woMAN's PROFESSION.
she Earns "a Comfortable Income ArranE-
ing Bridal FineTy.


she Earns Comfortable Income ArranG-
ing Bridal Finery.
Miss Eleanor Burwell is a young
woman who dresses brides. That is
the way she makes her living, and a
very good living at that. The other
day friend of mine was married, and
one morning, about two weeks before
the eventful day, card was sent up
to her, and / went down to see the
caller, a Miss Burwell, whose name
neither of us had ever heard before.
She explained her business and my
friend engaged her.
Early on the morning of the we'd
ding Miss Burwell appeared with her
assistant. The entire rousseau, and,
[ might say, the bride herself, was
turned over to her. She first investi-
gated the wedding outfit and saw that
everything was as it should be. She
insisted on the brides remaining
quietly in bed until 10 o'clock, the
wedding not being until 5 o'clock in
the afternoon. Then she had her out
and tried on the wedding dress, gloves
and slippers. Some alterations, only
few stitches, were necessary, and
she took them. Next she turned her
attention to packing the trunks, and
IN less than two hours the task was
accomplished and little book con-
tanning q complete inventory was put
in the brides travelling bag. This in
ventory gave not only the list of
articles, but told exactly where they
could be found. BY this time the
bride had finished her luncheon and
was persuaded to take a nap and re-
main in bed until called by Miss Bur
we'll, who, with her assistant, left the
house, to appear again promptly at
3. 80 o'clock.
Then a tepid bath was prepared;
the bride awakened, and while she
was taking 1t they Strengthened up the
room and laid out the bridal costume.
The dressing of the bride was accom-
plished without the slightest hurry
and in ample time. But best of all
was the fresh, rosy face that was seen
through the bridal veil. 1t was SO
different from the haggard, nervous
girl we had all expected. She was
not bit tired or worried, and, feel
ing that she was looking her very
best, womanlike. she was supremacy
contented. Miss Burwell accompanied
her to the church door, guarded
against soiling her gown in the car
rage and gave the final touch to her
veil and train as she entered.
After the ceremony she returned to
the house, superintendent the ex-
change of the bridal for the going
away gown, gave the final arrange
ments to the last trunk and the
travelling bag, set the room to rights
and left as quietly as the proverbial
mouse.
The next day saw her again, and
asked her to tell me about her work.
81 began four years ago." she re-
piled, "by dressing friend of mine,
and thought her mother, who was a
very delicate woman, would never get
through thanking me. She said was
just the right person in the right place
on such an occasion, and as | had left
school and was on the lockout for
something to do to earn living, de-
cided to try dressing brides as pro-
fession. [ came to New York as our
nearest big city and affording the
largest field. OF course l had few
letters of introduction and small
amount of money, less than $50, il
my pocket.
"While they pay me we'll for my ser
vices they do not feel that they can
afford to keep expensive servants. OF
course am compelled to keep up with
the latest styles, and for that purpose
[ spent two months in Paris last sum-
mer. August and September are the
poorest months in the year for we'd
dings, while October, February and
June are about the most popular.
Often during these months l have as
many as two brides day to dress,
and several times l could have had as
many as four, but was obliged to re-
fuse many engagements for want of
time.-Lafayette NJ. Laws, in Chi.
cago Record.