New-York tribune., 1907-08-05
PARIS BARGAIN DAYS.
Peculiar Summer Institution Ihat
Fills Many Wants-
Paris. july ..


July and August are set aside in Paris for tns
delights and the business Of the bargain SAFE
Women whose purses size smaller than
that of Fortunatus depend greatly on this I'M
portant summer fixture for placing in their
wardrobes a large variety OF articles that our
ing the season have been at prohibitive prices
The large department stores of this capltai
mark down with ruthless lavishness everything
left on their hands by the seasons trade and
the public rushes in with fine frenzy to secure
the prizes
The fun OF the fair begins out on the side
walk Most OF the large stores are in Isolated
blocks and all around their facades they place
out on the street a line of imDrovised cour-
ters laden with goods calculated to beguiie the
women Of all classes; for Paris IS democratlc'
and the woman ''en cheveux, or in her hafr-
that is To say. bareheaded and not wearing ths
hat which is in France n caste distinction
shops side by side with her mistress and social
superiors Thus. strolIing along the sidewalk.
You will see the and tidy working women.
in white aprons and short petticoats. trying on
cheap cotton morning gowns while elegantly
dressed '.bourgenises'' trying costly wells
half yard away
II is most interesting 10 watch the Paristennes
shopping. They earnest about 1t, and ths
salesmen are sympathetic and intensely anS-
ious that madame should have exactly the artt-
Every stand is fitted with little mirror that
can be tilted in any direction, and, regardless
Of the passersby they swathe their pretty faces
in wells and look in the glass to see whether the
tint is the right one If d second face appears
in the glass the owner Of the first gives IL q
little tip go to reflect more OF the second
face; that woman acknowledges tho civiltty with
a polite little gesture, and both continue their
search after the ideal in wells
4 little further on Is a Mount E2tra OF hats
at incredible prices. Here the Paristenne care"
fully unpirs her own smart headgear and tr-ea
on the bargains before the glass, consulting ths
young man in charge when unabl> TO make uo
her mind. Most helpful are the salesn1eni they
have a quick eye for color effects, and do nod
mind taking trouble. YOU will hear them as
sert that this il green and that too yelov-s
and then they dive into their heaps OF goods to
find exactly the right shade.
To the inexperienced the foreigner the fn-
terror of large Paris department store fs -
scene Of inextricabIe confusion EveryThera
tables and short counters covered with
goods The public stroll around on all sides.
handling the objects displayed without let or
hindrance- There chairs; YOU nusr
stand or walk all the time you in the build
ing. Moreover. You can never be sure when yotE
have seen all the varieties of any given drticto
I'm which you may be Interested which the shoo
contains. You think YOU have left d behind
YOU and behold. it crops up again another
counter in another hall another floor.
Standing on the ground floor you look up
straight 10 the lofty roof but the whole IS
divided into sections, and each section IS
rounded by galleries. above the other Re-
/ volvine staircases and i.fts take you from ons
TO another and in OF the favorfte en-
poritIms Of the city-the most progressive and
enterprising. perhaps-there Is additional
feature interest in the shape OF roof garden.
or hanging garden. Paris calls IL Here.
up on the roofs of the building. you may stroll
about amid laurel bushes and overlook the
whole of the city
I T2IItD sale vyha
| siennes do not allow themselves 70 be
! ticed away from the very serious business
| OF the moment. They know they have only
| fifteen days in which to lay I'D the stock
/ Of toilette accessories and toiIettes which shall
I enable them to shine down there by the sea.
where their husbands have already taken a little
! villa and whittier they intend 70 betake them
! selvt when their summer shopping Is done.
| While crowds Of American tourists driving
the smart Paris police to desperation by asking
difficult questions and getting hopelessly con-
| fused by the replies. ParisenneS are buying up
| miles Of rich brocade and embroidered lawns
and preparing vie with the vealthiest at
TrouvfIIe or Ostend in their gorgeous siIken lin
inEs and dainty summer apparel
Little advertising is done before these sales.
modest notice appears in tho leading papers
and on the shop windows to the effect that
prices will be reduced before taking the IN
ventory. There startling posters to
summon YOU to the scene. sandwich men pa
troll the streets announcing the great event. But.
after ALL no advertising is needed Those moss
interested waiting IN the city for the OPEN
ing day which Is always In the last fortnight in
July. aud when the doors were thrown open
the eventfuI morning the public were IN their
places-that is. making their way by Metra.
autObus or to the store
! If YOU want to the bargain sale at tn
height you go IN the afternoon. becween
. and g. Not often does the ParIsienne leavs
her homo before the early luncheon. which -
served at 1f:30 or II With a long afternoon
before her. she valves all social duties during
sale days and saIlies forth bargain hunting.
stalking with great skill the articles which
she has set her heart For the Parisienne has
a way OF making herself at home IN any
roundings. which In the shops takes the form oe
getting exactly what she wants. Long oefors
sale time she will say a salesman: How
/ much have you left of that7 wish you would
put II aside for me for the sale" And, strangs
! to saw the young man will DO as he is bid, and
she will come at her time during the sais
and carry off the quarry. The employees at the-a
| shops are quite az anxious that she should hava
what she wants at the price she wants ss She
is herself DO you want de Cologne"
they will say. II shall have very fius in
quality at so much the quart. and, IL you Ike,
will put your name down for some for the sale.
cannot let YOU have il at that price before.
Thus in Paris the bargain sale Is great sue
cess from every point of view. The storekeepeP
clears out everything does not want keep.
and tho Parisiennes get everything they want ar
[ their own price. and every one Is pleased IL
il wonderful that tho women Of the less than
wealthy class do not allow themselves TO bs
carried out OF town until the bargain sales are
! over G. b