The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-14
AMERICANS INVADE ENGLAND.
(From The london Chroniole.l

I ruin AAO AAO44NOh OnAOA4CAOsy
The Influx of American tourists, so far
as 1t affects railways, steamboats,, and
tourist agents, has afforded material for
two special articles in recent issues OF
The Daily Chronicle. Its effect on the
trade Of the country is also worthy of
cOnside ration.
When the American 'popper"-which
is the transatlantic equivalent of ''pater-
familias '-contemplates trip en- tamille
to Europe writes Chronicle representa-
tive who happens to have visited and
studied the States, he allots so much to
travelling and hotels and so much more to
the shopping requirements of the women
of his party. The problem which I have
sought to solve is how far and in what
manner this shopping money is spent in
England.
Walking up Oxford street was attract
ed by a conspicuous notice in all the
windows OF an enterprising drapery and
general store, which seems TO be gradual
~ spreading itself along the thorough
fare. Americans are thereby notified
that they can be supplied within gratis,
with a table showing the equivalent of
various sums of English money in dollars
and cents This struck me as Offering
a field for operations, so 1 entered the
shop, inquired for the general manager,
and catechised him.
81 should say that for one American
customer last year we have had five this
year, was the encouraging reply to my
first question.
Il suppose the Paris Exhibition viii
affect the extent of your trade this year?''
"Only as regards the quite wealthy
class who can afford to pay Paris prices
for elaborate toilets We are already hav-
1nglmany customers who have been to
the exhibition and appear to have re-
served much of their shopping for Lon
don. Our New York agent informs us
that we shall have another batch of visi-
tors in Septem berthe Well-tO do folk
who make point Of spending August at
the fashionable American seaside resorts,
and, having no country houses with
partridge shooting. viii make a point of
visiting Europe when the ordinary tour
st rush is over"
L further gathered here that the Ameri- |
can lady customers in spite of their pro-
hibitive customs duties at home, buy
largely of COSTUME s, but most Of all OF
drapery fancy goods" They take eve
rything English except as regards one or
two special articles, which they prefer
to be of American pattern, land these'' |
OAAO Auev41etSCk OO4N AlOg We nave ludQ6 Il /
point of providing, having ascertained
from our agents on the other side exactly
what is required Dress lengths are
also much In demand, probably owing |
TO the fact that in the States home dres-
sing is practtced on a larger scale than |
in England, and was shown a speci
men OF an American paper pattern spec
Tally imported to suit this class of custO- |
mer; also, by the way, a guide to Lon
don, supplied free to American custo-
mers.
In fact, there is q general tendency in
London orapery stores to cater for Broth
or Jonathan's daughters.
Calling on q couple of fashionable West
End dressmakers, l ascertained that the
New York and Chicago society lady is
only just realizing that London can turn
out as smart toilets as Paris. A fashion
able tailor said that he was not much
affected by the tourist season, having a
regular connection among the young
bloods' OF New York, who call periOdi-
oalIystO give their orders At q large
cheap tailoring establishment, however,
there appeared to be quite o rush of
American customers In July-fOr four
guinea or hve-gu1nea suits, which had to
be made up against time'' so that they
might be worn at once.
From an inquiry at FANCY shop in
Regent streeb l learned that very little
was purchased there by American custo-
mers except hOtographs-mainly Of the
queen, the Prince and Princess OF Wales,
Duke OF Connaught, and English society
ladies, including to q large extent those
of American parentage. Frames, purs.
es, and things Of that kind l was told
they seem this year to be buying In
Paris
AS regards hotels, all Glasses, inolud-
ing Bloomsbury boarding houses have
done big American business in spite OF
the exhibition. One interesting sign of
up-to-date American tastes was ELECTED
fromsthe proprietor OF hotel IN rural
Devonshire. Americans" he said, fare
English scenery In certain counties is as
beautiful, If not as grand, as in many of |
the tourist resorts of Europe. / now lind ]
it pays me we'll to lay myself out for j
American customers-peOple who until
lew years ago knew nothing OF the Eng J
Avon.