The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-12-21
SOCIETY SPIES AND TOUTs.
How They Steal Exclusive Models and
 Boom Businesses.

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 Boom Businesses.
 About a year ago a man who proved to be the agent of an English firm was arrested in Paris charged with bribing an accomplice to steal some military models just invented by a famous French modiste.
 Such patterns represent an expendi- ture of thought, labor and hard cash of which the ordinary man has no con- ception. Skilled artists have to be em- ployed and paid very high salaries The models, whether of dresses or hats, are prepared long before they are re quired, and are guarded as 1ealously as a government guards the secret p1ans of it's forts and submarines.
 The outsider might imagine that the easiest method of piracy would be to watch the windows of the smart milli- ners and to sketch the new designs there shown. This practice, common enough at one time, has now fallen completely into desuetude. The ob- feet of the modern millinery pirate is by some means to get hold of the new fashions we'll in advance of the com ing season
 Last spring, says the Grand Maga- zine, the proprietor of one of the smartest shops in the West End of London, noticed lady walking in the park ,attired in a dress almost an eX- act copy of brand new model of his own, a model which not half dozen people had seen besides its inventor and himself. The design had been registered, but the copy was just 6utfi- ciently altered to steer clear Jf legal difficulties
 A searching inquiry revealed the fact that the culprit was lady who had always been considered one of the firms smartest and best customers. Her birth and position were lelss inn Leachabe than the state of her tfnan- ces, and she had accepted the offer of a Berlin firm to dress her on condition that she supplied them with the very latest creations that found their way from Paris to London.
 Having the entree to the innermost sanctum of the London firm referred to, she had taken advantage of their confidence in her to draw their designs from memory and post them to Berlin The London firm had no legal remedy whatever. All they could do was when the autumn styles were due and the lady called again, to inform hel courteously that her patronage was n. longer desired.
 Another lady, detected in a similar trick by the manager of a Regent street firm was very cleverly Lun- ished. Upon her next visit she was received with the same cordiality as ever and taken into the show room where the latest models were usually displayed
 She never suspected, until too late that the room had been specially ar ranged for her reception The model: exhibited were anything but new ant the to smart firm which employed he was put to vast expense to work Ill dresses from patterns resurrecte( from those of years before, which con eeouently proved absolutely unsala hla
 The range of business oren to wei born men and women Is, indeed, ( very large one, the ladies performing wonders in pushing the sale of new s3aps, scents or hair washes. Fo some women the motor car craze hal fprocured small fortunes.
 The manufacturers have not only il many eases taught pretty women t drive cars, but in some cases hay, found it worth their while to make sive machine. This works in twt ways. Mt merely does the lady poin out the beauties of the car to he friends and aequantances, but he photograph, car and all, usually find its way into one of the Illustrated pa pers, and as the name of the maker 10 the car is given, the Iicture forms al unequalled advertisement
 Hotels, too find the lady tout mos useful. Last autumn a very pretty girl arrived at certain Scotch hydro pathie establishment with her mother
 She was smart well dressed, clev CT musician-iust the sort of girl to b, thoroughly popular with both sexes At once she became the center of large c5terie of admirers. Then afte a few days her vivacious expression gave Ilace to a look of unutterabl boredom
 q can't stand this place. It's s, deadly dull" she ,gaid over and ovel again. Finally one evening she an nounced that she could not support i an hour longer. She was going "Where?" was asked.
 Back to Blitherington," was the de clded answer. Tt may be ltitl, dearer, but you get your money. worth t here. One has such a gooc time there" And she proceeded to di late at length upon the advantages O the place.
 Next day she left and before tn, week was out large proportion O her friends had followed her.
 MAY BE A BOROUGH.
 All Highwood Residents Not in Favo l AV,,,