Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-29
COSTLY TRAVELLING BAGS.
Women May Pay as Much as s2,4OO
for One Now.

for One Now.
Travelling appurtenances were never be-
fore so handsome and 30 costly as they are
now, reports the New York Sun. OF course
~, 400 is a record price for a leather travel
Ing bag, but the fact that that sum was
paid for one not long ago to a New York
firm is evidence of the tendency OF the
times.
Needless to say 1t was an American who
bought the bag and II is also true that now
adays when a prosperous American goes
travelling he is known the world over by the
quality as well as the quantity Of his bag
gage.
Europeans, even the richest" declared
a worldwide traveller, "in comparison with
Americans, appear to be remarkably indif-
ferent concerning the style Of their travel
ing accessories. For instance, / have seen
an English woman Of title going about COM
placently with a clumsy, shabby portman-
teau such as a lady's maid over here would
eye with dlsdain.
English travellers are not invariably in
different in this respect" he added.
Neither are Americans unduiy extravagant,
but 1t is the latter the designers have in
mind every year when turning out novel;
ties In trunks, bags and boxes"
Women are our best customers" said
a dealer. IF there is one thing more than
another a fashionable woman tries to avoid
It is a shabby travelling outfit, particularly
a shabby bag, which is apt to be more in
evidence during a journey than a trunk or
suit case. For that reason we pay ~particu-
lar attention to new designs for bags
Bag, by the way. is the approved name
Just now instead Of satchel or grip, which
have lost vogue along with alligator skin.
The array Of new styles Of leather is one OF
the most interesting features of this sea-
sons display for travellers.
Morocco of q very dark brown color and
an extremely fine twilled grain is con-
s~picuous for beauty and price and there are
also moose skin, buffalo, bronco, Texas
steer, pig, lizard and sea lion. The pro-
cesses through which these skins pass be-
fore being made up are responsible for the
enthusiasm with which they are received
by fashionable buyers.
Steel gray and a soft cocoa brown are
among the newest Of the lighter shades
and seal brown is preferred to black in
almost all the feathers except seal, in
which black still holds its own.
The bag OF a square or box shape is the
newest. The more expensive makes have
a ~folding-back or hinge top, which gives
ready access to the interior pockets that
hold all the toilet accessories, such as
hand mirror, combs. brushes, cologne bot
ties, ETC., all shaped to suit their recep-
tacles.
The modish bag for a man is almost the
same as that for a woman In size and
finish, the main difference being that the
former includes shaving implements and
larger brushes.
To a great extent It is the interior 1T
tings which FIX the cost Of a bag. Ex-
ternally the very handsomest Of them is
exceedingly plain, being finished with only
a narrow mounting and clasps of dull or
bright gold--which for the moment is pre-
ferred to silver-but not so the inside.
The lining is of the ~softest, finest leather
and so are the pockets. which are hlled 10
some cases with articles Of sterling silver
OF of sterling silver overlaid with gold,
each engraved with the owners monogram,
crest or initials. When cost is not to be
considered the engraving is replaced with
relief work representing the finest carving.
A single gold crest on one article may cost
$50 or twice hat sum.
Such crests and monographs, too, have
their fashions. The style most in favor
just now represents clusters of fine beads,
every one of which is cut by hand.