The Indianapolis journal., 1904-05-15
Woman's Only Despot in This
Free CountryI Is Her Dressmaker
Job Troubles, but Spared
he Dressmaker Battle
Smlin nd OneM Mans Cetaw nd Finish

her word not to, but clean forgot But
told her you was always so sweet about
things that you wouldn't blame me. Now,
s'posing you come next Tuesday and well
be already TO fit you-or maybe you'd bet
ter come Friday-we' re awful behind. How
was IT you said you wanted your skirt cut,
Miss Mary kind Of forgotg'
And you so away knowing 90 a dead
moral certainty that no scissors have yet
been put into the goods You brought: but
that little remark about your sweetness
disarms you. Perhaps she is ready for sou
when you go at the appointed time; per-
haps she isn't; anyway the completion Of
your frock is usually delayed two or three
weeks beyond the promised time-but that
is better than IL might be. provided the
frock is satisfactory I'm other respects.
There is one large comfortable dressmaker
in Indianapolis who makes .shirtwaists. and
gowns at average prices who has perhaps
the most unique excuse proffered by any
one for the unfinished state OF the gar
ments at the promised days. Now. don't
you know / got that all done but one
sleeve" she Will say solemnly." And then
1 run out of thread. Yesm / finished that
day before yestday, all but that sleeve,
but / run out of thread and you didn't
come in, so L didn't know what to do"
Perhaps you did not buy the thread in the
beginning-you left that for her; but she
always hestates over getting the second
supply herself; evidently TO match white
cotton No. 20 appeals TO her as too deli
cate a task 10 undertake The matter OF
promises is not the only one that makes
lovely woman wroth, however. The love-
ly woman goes TO her modiste with plans
for a new frock. Ii is TO be pale blue
touched up with black velvet. very simple.
but of lovely lines. She has the picture in
her minds eye. She congratulates herself
happily upon her success in designing.
Pale blue with touches OF black. says
madame. "Yes-it's pretty combination.
but it's been so overdone.' The lovely
woman withers beneath the tone which
brands her distinctly OF season-oefore-
last. Now look at this green embroidery
muslin-green is really good this season
you know-and the embroidery with Just
touch of the cerise here and tnere Is 50
chic ,..,,,
..'Oh. can't wear green" says the lovely
woman decidedly. I've never had but one
green frock-and that's why we never nao
another" Madame is apparently dear. Sne
drapes the muslin about the ioveiy
woman's shoulders in deft folds and then
stands at arms length to survey the el-
feet ..It's such a Frenchy thing-and there
isn't another anything like IT In town. IL
you really want bit of black with ~ We We
':But il isn't becoming, fnterposes tne
lovely woman surveying herself with
doubtful eye Il don't look well In green
You couldn't have anything so, becom,
ing" Madames voice is decided And
green is SO good: bSha smlrrT think' a,i 'n' '"'
..Oh no-Im too short and-er-plump. L
must have my gown perfectly pam IN ,es Us
effects" The lovely woInan's voice strives strives
for the same decision that marks madames
tone but Intellectually. NJ
ssPlain effects-why my dear MIS- Blank,
couldn't permit the klnd of 5o"'s No. r.
must be shirrs by all means-and very
deep velvet girdle in cerise shades to fol-
low the embroidery.
,Tbe lovely woman has little to say during
the rest of the interview. She goes nome
trying to stifie in her mind the tn9usnt
that she loathes cerise, that she looks
chastity in green and that the shirrs and a
deep girdle will take off three inches from
her already insufficient height -for' pelors
she is permitted TO depart, she mas asreeo
Internationally all those Things.
Now and then a man becomes involved
in the transactions OF the dressmaker'
sometimes under those circumstances, the
dressmaker gets the worst of IT. one IN
dianapolis man came off with flying colors
from such an encounter last spring. Mrs
Man had ordered a light coat to serve for
various kinds OF wear, from one or the
smart modistes. She had bought the ma
terial herself to insure the coats perfec-
ton Four months after she had bought
the material she still waiting for the
coat At the end OF the four months sne
was more than ever anxious for Il, as she
and Mr.. Man had arranged a little Easter
trip and the coat was 10 De especla,iy
smart for travelling. She longed, but she
had her doubts. Then Mr.. Man took mat
ters into his own hands without consuita-
tion-his wIfe's awe OF madame woaIa
not have permitted his course OF action-
He looked up the dressmaker In the d.
rectory. went to her and demanded 10
know if the coat had been cut.
Yes, it has, was the answer
Give me the gores-or the seams-or
whatever you call the pieces. he SAID.
I'm going to take them to tailor and
have the coat made"
Madame flew into a fine rage She told
Mr.. Man that he was no gentleman; that
she would not give up the coat. ana
various other bits of information. Finally
Mr. Man gave his ultimatum- You may
keep the coat and make it-but You must
a - Cot .Iu 70
evening, or else Mrs. Man win not accept
it."
you'll have to accept IT," stormed ma
dame. IF make it. no matter when. youh
Mr.. Man told her he would be delighted IL
she would try TO make him accept II ana
pay for IL, and the conversation ended as
storrniy as IL began. But the coat was
sent up at the time mentioned by Mr.. Man.
one of the fond fathers Of indianapolis
did not come out well I'm his tilt against
the dressmaker, however. He opened Dill
from the dressmaking department IN one OF
the big stores one morning az the breakfast
table. and. contrary TO his wont, looked the
items over. He made no comment on the
cost OF the material or the trimmings or the
making. but he knitted his brows over the
Findings, S.
What are findings. caughter7' he asked
s.Oh. hooks and eyes. and braids, and but
tons-and. things" said daughter.
'.Oh, no-it's short skirt
ANY buttons! .
Daughter reflected NO, guess not
Hooks and eyesy
We'll two or three-and some patent fas-
tener things.
well. are they expensive?
eOh. don't know-about 10 cents card.
J guess-or maybe l5-
"Weli. what other findings. daughter7-
Daughter reflected again. .Oh. some tape
/ guess-and pair of shields"
Father looked a bit puzzled. We'll. l
know tape is pretty cheap" he said But
how about these-what are they-guards?
They cost much-''
Shields, father. Oh. about 40 or 50 cents.
I guess"
well. daughter. don't object 10 your
spending money for things when you get the
things-but | object 90 paying for findings
that nobody can find In settle this bin
myself
He did. He entered strenuous protest
10 the head OF the department on the item
OF findings. But II is our invariabic rule to
charge s. for findings. no matter what they
cost" said the head, suavely. but firmly.
Repeated argument failed 10 change the
statement. The findings were S. and I'm the
e. her .afd he and cnf Oft <<o