The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-05

old feudal times, when all over the
world pedlars humbly sought the pat
ronage and favor of rObber chieftains,
and unlOaded their packs in the Gas
tie hall" for the pleasure of the fair
ladies who were kept at home in
''durance VILE by their rough I'M
washer lords.
And so perhaps it has CHANGED
through long custom and heritage that
at this present day there is nothing
quite so servile in all creation as the
spectacle Of a "modiste' in attendance
on duchess, or a ladies' tailor bend
ing himself double while deferentially
presuming to measure the hips of
princess. 1t is quaint, it is pitiful. it
is intensely, deliciously comic. And when
the price of the garment is never clear
~ stated, and the bill never sent in for
years lest offense is given to "her
grace" or her highness' by firms that
will, nevertheless, have no scrupIe in
sending dunning letters and legal
threats to untitled ladies who may pos
sibly keep them waiting a little for
their money but whose position and
credit are more firmly established than
those Of any great DerSOnageS with
handles to their names it is not with
out a certain secret satisfaction that
one hears of such fawning f1unkeys of
trade getting well burnt in the fires Of
loss and disaster. For, in any case, it
may be taken for granted that they al
ways charge a double, sometimes treble
price Cor a garment or costume over
and above what that garment or cos
tune is really worth. and one may safe
" presume they base their calculations
on possible loss. It is no uncommon
thing to be told that such and such an
evening blouse or bodice copied from
the Paris model" viii cost forty gum
cas-. I'VE might possibly do it for
thirty-fve" says the costumer, medi-
4aA With a6
gravity the small. flimsy object he is
thus pricing, a trif1e made up of chiffon.
ribbon and tinsel gewgaws, knowing all
the while that everything Of which it
is composed could be purchased for
much less than ten pounds. Twenty-Five
guineas. forty-f1ve guineas, sixty five
guineas are quite common prices for
gown at any os the fashionable shops
today One cannot. of course, blame the
nodistes and Quitting firms for asking
these absurd fancy prices If they can
get them. If women are mad it is per-
haps wise, Just and reasonable to take
financial advantage Of their madness
while it lasts. Certainly no woman Of
we'll balanced brain would give unlim-
/ tied prices for gowns without most care
full inquiry as to the correct value Of
the material and trimming used for
them. and the feminine creature who
runs into the elaborate show rooms of
Madame Zoe. or Bereniee. or Faustina,
and orders frocks by the dozen. say
ing chirpingly: "Oh. yes. You know
how they ought to be made! Your
taste Is always Derfectl Make them
very pretty won't you? Much pref
tier than those YOU made for Lady
ClaribeI .Yesi-Thanks III leave it all
IN your hands!'' is q mere lunatic. glib
bering nonsense, who could not, if she
were asked, tell where twice two maxi
ing four might possibly lead her in the
sum total Of a banking account.
Not very long ago there was held
wonderful symposium" of dress al
| the establishment of a certain modiste
It was intensely divertings entertain
ing and instructive A stage was
erected at one end of a long room