The Washington herald., 1907-09-15
FOILS Her RIVALS
Miss White Guards Secret
from Sister MOdiSteS.
DIsAPPOINTS INVESTIGATORS
President of DrcsSmaSers' PrO5cc-
tive Association Protects Her Own
COncIusively Her Fitness for Posi-
tiOn She HOIds-COnceaIs Methods.

New York. Sept IA few privileged
persons were admitted 20 the official
dTesslng-room al to-day's session Of the
siXty-frst annual convention Of the
Drcssmakers Protective Association. The
coveted permission had been sought with
"a distinct purpose in mind.
An ambitious modiste from the central
part of the State had determined not to
go home until she found out just where
Miss White had put that ten inches which
she alleges IS missing from the normal
hip measure, and also how she managed
to wear belt four inches smaller than
the one she wore last year, despite the
fact that she has gained twenty pounds
since the convention in 1896
To be sure she had told them sew
eral days ago that il was all in the coz
sets, and refused to explain further
but" reasoned the sage ones. that
doesn't help MS much in the strenuous
task of suppressing the superlluous curves
of our clients II she's mean enough not
to tell how it's done let us take counsel
among ourselves. steal upon her una
wares while she is undergoing this mys-
terious reduction process and behold
with our own eyes"
Accordingly. under preteuse of yearuing
10 study more closely the mechanism of
the "Behe Princcsse." they wrested from
their intended victim a reluctant promise
TO let them come In just for few min
utes7 while she was In the hands Of her
tired women. They were on the scene
half an hour before the scheduled time
for the opening Of The session. only 20
ind the doors OF the robing room boltcd
and barred In their faces.
fearful Request Denied.
Knocks and fearful requests for ad-
mttauce elected only the response In
the piping accents of Rose, the emergency
model. that ALI those whose names were
on the slip handed I'm this afternoon could
come in as soon as Mis- White was ready
20 put on her dress" "Oh. amt she the
foxy one-after she promised too-meau
thing"
say. Jennie. see II you can see any
thing through the keyhoIe'
III bet she's getting into il this minute.
Didn't YOU hear her groau just them
Hush. you silly things you. II We
can't see. We might just as well hear
That's so"
Thereup0n for fully five minutes they
held their peace. and TO their waiting ears
came this conversation from within.
Rose. YOU haven't managed that third
laciug properly. Haven't ! always tried
20 impress it on your mind that you can't
have no short waist until YOU have
long waist first? Ny fronts always been
thirty-three inches. and YOU can see for
yourself If you can read the tape measure,
that it's only thirty-two. The whole
things got 10 come off again and "a thou
sand people waiting out there for me to
explain them the fashions"
IF you viii take "a long breath. Madame,
and raise your chest a trine. I may be
able 20 pun il down "a little
Pull" or Quit Job.
May be- abIe-wcll. 7 guess YOU must be
able OF look for another place before
You sleep tonight. Ny, aren't YOU strong
enough TO pull down those straps ~ the
back and fasten? I know I can't afford
to destroy the lines Of a $500 coat, just
70 keep you from working too hard"
Vow. Elsie. rs time for you O. pun
the strings you're holding"
"Oh, Is il too tight. madame"
Tight What do you mean. chud2
Can't you see I'm swimming in them
Here. help me slip into that little lace
cover; and Marie. get that little blue en-
broidered waist. Now. the skirt, and tell
the ladies' they may come in"
HereupOn the doors were opened and
the nine entered with flushed c0uute-
uanCes and eyes that tried in vain 20
meet those Of their president They en-
deavored with varying degrees Of sue
cess 10 stimulate an enthusiastic interest
IN the canvas inside belt and the tie backs
and the draping waists OF the Bebe Prin-
cesse. and they said. Perfectly lovely"
and "Oh. how swagger," and isn't she
the dearest thing" AZ proper intervals.
but gloom was in their hearts and
great void in their notebooks.
I didn't get a thing out Of IL except
those straps in the back and I haven't
an idea where they begin 20 stop. Do YOU
suppose they are elastic?" whispered the
Tingleader.
"Oh, I don't know; let's get out Of this
or We won't get good seats in front"
And the nine made their obeisauce and
filed out
Miss White In Limelight.
Tt amt my purpose to-day. ladies.
said Miss White, as she glided gracefully
into the limelight and beamed upon the
delegates. to give you no new models.
want 10 speak about originality. You
can't none Of you copy these beautiful
costumes I've been showing YOU for every
customer. What's becoming 10 one looks
hideous on the next one. What you must
do is to take the sleeves Of one model and
the collar Of another and the skirt Of
another and combine them with few
little faStidious touches Of your own so
that YOU make a chic, elegant effect. with
lines and movement that show that YOU
are a real artistic and not seamstress. If
you can't 90 that you'd better save your
railroad fare by staying away from this
convention, and if it amt innately BON
in you, you may as well make up your
mind TO that first as last
Rose. have YOU brought that satin
court train: why, where is that girlg She
was born in December, and she'll be the
death Of me some day.
Now. ladies': If any Of you want 70
ask any questions, it's your last chance.
Convention closes to-day"
Worried About POmpadOurs.
Are the pOmpadours just as large in
Paris?' queried a woman whose hair was
drawn back tightly from the ears and
gathered into a dOOrknob knot.
Larger" responded Miss White
promptly, complacertlv patting her own
amplitudinOuS coiffure: but. mind Won
there amt going 10 be no more puffs worn
by the smart set. Tie princesse braid's
the latest, choicest thing. and Won can