The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-02-08
DIPLOMATIC WOMEN.
DRESSMAK FRS THO
 HOODWINK IND PLATTER.
Oily Methods of a Swell Dressmnking House In the Metropolis Women Business That Coins Money.

|
 Trade on the Pebbles of Their Sex-i l Business That Coins Money.
 l The only women who ever grow real
 ionable modistes in big cities Womer | do sometimes lay by tidy fortunes a' | millinerG, shopkeepers and principals ol
 smart boarding schools. But by dress
 making alone are vast sums of money
 accumulated. At this present momen 1 not less than a dozen mantua maker! flourish in New York who reckon theil
 earnings by the hundreds of thousands and without exception the heads ol | theee wealthy establishments were from the ranks. Each and every one was poor seamstress in her time, worked fol
 small wages and owes her ultimate sue cess to industry, pluck and ehrewdness There is no business in which cornpetl- tion is tiercer, and none that offers such opportunities and rewards for genuine talent.
 Of course with so mony competent IT, |Vals in the field it requires level head
 and lots of sagacity to succeed. In
 this respect one particularly modish firm is the envy and despair of the en-
 tire profession The partners are two
 middle-aged, gray-haired ladies, and every year secs them very nearly double
 their income. They achieve 1t by di-
 plomacy that leaves all of their antag-
 onists miles behind.
 Their latest stroke of legitimate cum
 ming was practiced upon St. Louis. By
 personal inquiry and the aid of the so-
 cial register they identified the leader
 of the beau monde in that place, and
 to her snare confidential letter was
 written. In terms of subtly deferential
 fattery she was informed that the fame
 of her exalted position had reached New
 York Naturally every fashionable firm
 was eagerly seeking her patronage.
 After the preamble had paid due
 court to her high estate Mines. A. and
 B. begged to say that being forced to
 fill large orders for gowns in San Fran- cisco, they would esteem it an honor to stop for single day in St. Louis and offer madam an opportunity of inspect ing the latest Parisian importations. But they were respectfully forced to impose one condition, which was that madame would keep their arrival a pro- found secret and under no circumstances breathe a word of this radical depart ure from the established usages of the house. They added that of course this restriction did not apply to madame'a own family and closest personal friends, but the whole transaction was to be considered strictly confidential.
 The result of this willy move might be easily foreseen. An accomplished forewoman with several elegant assist ants, arrived from New York, engaged luxurious rooms at the hotel and sent a card to their correspondent That perfect mob of rich women stormed their place and were treated to a magnificent exhibition of French gowns wraps and bonnets. But, with the exception of one dozen costumes, everything was marked Sold or ad- dressed to San Francisco. The 12 high priced frocks were snapped up in live Her time than it takes to tell, and loud ,lamors for more was heard on all sides. The smiling forewoman shook her head, and even looked doubtful when orders 'or duplicates were thrust upon her She would do her best and intercede for adies who were so kind and compli- to her employers. The ultimate outcome of this clever move was a net profit of $15,0O0 to that firm from St. Louis alone during the following Spring.
 A visit to the imposing mansion on Murray hill occupied by these clever implies a practical lesson in | he potency of wit and fummery dis ,reetly combined. When customer lr'ives up to the stately entrance, a Ind then holds open the heavy plate | ,lass vestibule doors. Apparently he is | he sole masculine element on the place, or no soner does she enter the wide, | ofty hall carpeted through in crimson, han three of four well dressed women ! ome forward Two half grown maids, el girls evidently sit about in crisp kirts and smart caps and aprons, ready l 0 run errands at moments notice. III about are evidences of luxury and tealth. HothCuse flowers bloom every where, and cheerful wood fires in wide pen chimney fire-places. One of the committee takes the visitor in and, and in five minutes the artless oman is convinced the whole esta blish- 1ent has been on the qui vive for her oming.
 All these long waisted, admirably roomed young persons know her by anne; a dozen anxious inquiries are 1ade for her health. They are sure 1onths have elapsed since her last visit, uring which time she has certainly rown stouter or thinner, as the case nd her aspirations warrant. After one the small waiting maids has been ispatched and bidden, with great em- ressment, to say that Mrs. Jones is filling to be fitted" the hattered visit r is conducted into q vozy loungng pom. Here she is relieved of her wraps, settled in a big armchair, has a has, ock thrust under her feet, and tea is ffered her, together with the latest lagazines or a dish of harmless gos- p, If in advance of her appointment, he is never suffered to be Wearied for le deferential but laquaclous attendant alks cleverly and is genius at listen- lg to personalities, no matter how dull. accounts of Maud's toothache, the but ITS impertinenee or MT. Jones i'll tenn CT apparently thrill her with interest, nd when the bell girl begs madame's 1 resence in the fitting room she has ab- Dlutely to tear herself away.
 However, one fails to appreciate the ,, x,f +l,- !