The Monroe journal., 1907-01-29

Once again am in gay and gaudy
Paris. One visit calls for another.
There is something about the old
place that attracts. But | was not
attracted here this time-somebody
else was and | had to come along.
To the women this town has a pecu-
liar interest, and it is out of the
question for man accompanied by
his wife to pass through France
and cut out Paris. From their early
girlhood they have been hearing
and reading about it, and have seen
in their fashion journals the pretty
bonnets and lovely gowns made
here. The very name of the city
has become dear to their hearts.
Let them come and see it. | wish
that every woman and girl in the
land could pay it visit, for it is
the Mecca to which every lady en-.
joys a pilgrimage. 1t is the home
of fashion, and the earthly paradise
of the dear creatures. And this is
a good time for them to see it, for
the holiday goods are on exhibition
and the show windows and shops
are full of charming Christmas
things. The sights are exceedingly
pleasing to the eye-and hurtful to
the pocket book. Everything that
can appeal to the taste or tempt the
appetite is to be seen; everything
that can crafty the love Of display
is here. The city has on its best
looks and it looks we'll. The streets
and boulevards are lined and crowd
ed with traders and sight seers,
many of whom are themselves beau
tiful sights. If it be lawful for a
married man to say so, this depo.
nent would further aver that the
women of Paris are pretty. Just
how much their fine dressing adds
to their natural beauty | am unable
to say. But they certainly know
how to dress. They have reduced
to perfection the art of harmonic,
ing colors and, like the skillful
painter, they have made art sur.
pass nature. From head to foot
their raiment is faultless. The fit
is perfect and the figure shown,
They carry themselves well and
their step is elastic. Like every
thing else in Paris, they move right
along while gazing in the
show windows. Neither winters
weather nor the foul streets can
deter them from going on "dress
parade" But they know how to
protect their dress from the slush.
They do not hesitate to interpose
ample distance between the slush
and their costly skirts-regardless
of Consequences. But nobody knows
anybody and why should somebody
carei AS the Paris beauty advances
in years she takes up the battle
with old father Time and strives to
conceal the ravages which she can
not stay. She resorts to the free
use of cosmetics and every other
devise known to her sex to dis
count her years. She is loath to
quit "the carpet" and fights to re-
main on it. And, by reason of her
talent in deceiving the observers
eye, she still looks well. In fact, !
have seen but one real homely look
ing woman in Paris, but she brought
down the average of Partisan beau
ty enormously. She was so ugly
that it gave one the heartburn to
look at her. But do not wish to
be unjust to the ladies in the mat.
ter OF love of fine dress. Fashion
is a thing that is contagious and
the men have caught it, too. AS a
rule the gentlemen here wear high
class, stylish goods, and look well.
SO strong is the contagion of style
that | came near falling victim
to it. My ancient sporting propen-
sity threatened to reassert itself
but a few enquiries about prices