The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-18
SOCIETY SPIES AND TOUT S.
How They steal Exclusive Models and
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 accom-
plice to steal some millinery models just
invented by a famous French modiste.
Such patterns represent an. expenditure
of thought, labor and hard cash of which
the ordinary man has no conception. Skilled
artists have to be employed and paid very
high salaries. The models, whether of
dresses or hats. are prepared long before
they are required, and are guarded as jeal-
ously AZ a Government guards the secret
plans 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 milliners and to
sketch the now designs there shown. This
practice, common enough at one time,
has now fallen completely into desuetude.
The object Of the modern millinery pirate
is by some means to get hold OF the new
fashions well in advance Of the coming
season.
Last spring, says the Grand Magazine,
the proprietor OF one OF the smartest shops
in the West End of London noticed a lady
walking in the park attired in a dress almost
an exact copy Of a brand new model of his
own a model which not half a dozen people
had seen besides its inventor and himself.
The design had been registered, but the
oopy was Just sufficiently altered to steer
clear Of legal difficulties.
A searching inquiry revealed the fact
that the culprit was a lady who had always
been considered one of the firms smartest
and hest customers. Her birth and posi-
ton were less Improbable than the state
Of her finances, and she had accepted the
Offer Of a Berlin firm to dress her on condi-
ton that she supplied them with the very
latest creations that found their way from
Paris TO London.
Having the entrSe to the innermost sane
tum 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 infor m
her ~courteously that her patronage was no
longer desired.
Another lady. detected in a similar trick
by the manager of a Regent street firm,
was very cleverly punished. Upon her next
visit she was received with the same cor
diality 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 arranged for
her reception. The models exhibited were
anything but new, and the too smart firm
which employed her was put TO vast ex-
pense to work up dresses from patterns
resurrected from those OF years before,
which, consequently proved absolutely
unstable.
The range OF businesses open to well
-, -a~a o~A ynupaR 10 in6aAd a
large one, the ladies performing wonders
in pushing the sale OF new soaps scents
or hair washes. For some women the motor
car craze has procured small fortunes.
The manufacturer have not only in
many cases taught pretty women to drive
cars, but in some cases have found IL worth
their while to make such a woman a present
OF an expensive machine. This works in
two ways. Not merely does the lady point
out the beauties Of the car to her friends
and acq~ueintances, but het photograph,
car and all, usually finds it's way into n
OF the illustrated papers, and az the name
OF the maker OF the car Is given. the picture
forms an u~nequalled advertisement.
Hotels. too, find the lady tout most use
full. Last autumn q very pretty girl arrived
az a certain Scotch hydropathic establish
ment with her mother.
She was smart. well dressed. a clever
m~usician-just the sort OF girl TO be thor
oughly popular with both sexes. Al once
she became the centre Of a large coterie OF
admirers. Then after a few days her viva
cious expression gave place 10 a look Of
unutterable boredom.
II can't stand this place. It's so deadly
dull" she said over and over again.
Finally one evening she announced that
she could not support u an hour longer.
She was going. ~Where1" was asked.
Pack to Bit herington, I" was the decided
answer. 1T may be a little dearer, but you
get your moneys worth there. One has
! such a good time there" And abe proceeded
10 dilatc at length upon the advantages of
tho place.
Next day she left, and before the week
was out a large proportion Of her friends
sAd followed her