The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13
Mildred Kearney Plans to
Appear in Opera in Russia
Army Of Dress Makers Scout" inf ashton
able Resorts Seeking New Styles
By La FOyageuSe


1877 10 l90S-from san Francisco TO
Paris-but here is the shade of Dennis
kearney in evidence in the form Of his
daughter. Mildred kearney, who IS at
present appearing on the vaudeville
stage in London. but who was in Paris
for few days last week. where she
was interviewed by one OF the news
papers
The daughter Of the former labor
Egltator. the author OF The cry once
50 famed IN San Francisco. The Chi
nese must go" and who offered TO lead
mob 10 Mob hil for the purpose of
sacking the houses Of rich persons liv-
ing there, is a black haired. blue eyed
young woman whose disposition is one
that viii make her conspicuous Wher-
ever she goes. She declared. when in
terviewed, that her temperament is
more Spanish than Irish basing her
claim TO such a fact on the ground that
she has achieved her greatest success
on the stage in Carmen, which she
asserts she studied IN Spain. although
my present teacher. N. Edouard de
kezke, prefers me TO sing lighter roles.
such as Madam Butterfly La TOsca
and others OF the modern grand opera
roles II de Rezke is on to his job, so
maybe he picked out a good one. Any
how, the fault. If there is any, is not
mine but H. de Rezke's"
Miss hearney says she intends TO ap-
pear in Russia next fall She also an
nounces herself as an admirer Of Mr.
Bryan. adding: IF ] could / would
vote for him, for have come TO the
conclusion that change Of govern
menr Is necessary in the United States
Unfortunately, we who wear directoire
gowns can only change II by influence
II We have no husbands we have no in
nuence on the vote"
the center Of the sta ge" in San Fran
cisco for a tine some years ago is
heard in a defense Of afternoon teas
as set forth by Lady Hope. a relative
by marriage Of the former Lady Hope.
who was better known to the John
ME-" OF the stage in particular and the
public ia general as May Yohe. Lady
Hope declares, While there has been
some discussion on the part of certain
hostesses over in London regarding the
abolishment OF afternoon teas. 1 can
say nothing against the custom II is
one too firmly established 10 he rooted
out by few women who have no good
reason 10 offer for their action The
afternoon IS the best time for seeing
ones friends. and one must naturally
have some refreshment 10 offer them
when they call il is not necessary TO
offer them tea only. although there is
no harm in tea II il is properly
brewed, but coffee, cocoa or chocolate
may sometimes be substituted
There are reports that in some
drawing rooms something stronger than
any Of these is c0vertly offered as
substitute 10 those who are discreet
ana who feel the need Of something
more exhilarating
" hiie many of our customs at home
may seem strange 10 French people
visiting the United States equally pc
culiar are some Of the customs in eX-
istence in France. Among them is the
privilege Of selling tobacco. At the
time OF the coup d'etat under Presi-
dent MacMahOn's regime. many years
ago a large number OF women OF title
whose means We're restricted were Civ
On the privilege Of selling tobacco to
the public because OF the fact that their
husbands had been functionaries of
state under previous administrations
In many cases the holders of these priv
neges have been dead for years but
their heirs. although wen 10 do, and in
several cases, immensely wealthy have
continued 10 enjoy the privileges in
question It IS such abuses as these
that the government is now seeking to
stop.
The privilege was given as a favor
which the government had q right to
end whenever IL so desired. In the
present day, however, the heir OF the
original beneficiary who is entitled TO
The net profit on tie sale OF cigars.
cigarettes, snuff. stamps, matches and
playing cards, rents the privilege TO
the highest bidder in the neighboring
district for which the right 10 sell has
been granted. In this way the pro-
prfetOr Of A saloon may pay the privi-
lege owner any sum from $3.50 70 $500
per year Many Of the cigar stores are
holoerS- one place in particular, IN
The Place du Theatre Francaise. in
Paris, yields not less than $4,000 each
year
An army OF scouts" chiefly female.
and representing dress makers Of Paris,
London and New York. has been recon
noitering Trouville and DeauvilIe. the
fashionable French summer resorts for
the purpose Of discovering novelties for
the 1an season immediately dressed
and with the manners Of good society,
All the scouts" have TO do is TO live
the lfe-baths in the morning. saunter
on the street in the afternoon and spend
the evening IN the casino, or listen TO
the concert in the gardens-and keep
their eyes open Each man and woman
intent on discovering new fashions has
an eye trained to appreciate the subtlest
change IN the cut fof a skirt, an addi-
uonal seam in a coat, the arrange
ment ia the fold Of sleeve, the pre-
else height OF the collar or width OF
ruffie, or an original color blend
Each night an exhaustive report in
the nature OF a secret dispatch is writ
ten and sent to Paris or London, while
the scouts from the United States.
who also act as buyers FOR their firms,
guide their purchases. when they re-
furn by what they have seen.
Not every fashion launched at TrOu-
vile or Deauvilie survives, even for a
season All the latest ideas OF Paris
and Niennese houses are exploited at
these two fashionable race meetings.
often firm has come upon a novel
idea for which there seems to be a
great future, but somehow it fails to
catch on. Women are not interested
there are no eager inquiries and specu-
lations as 10 who made the garment
and the novelty IS quickly dropped and
something else launched in its place.
Particularly attractive this season
are the velvet ribbons with jeweIed
bands. which pass around the neck
and are loosely knotted in front.
These are shown in ali coIors. and the
variety displayed in the slides is le-
giOn- 7 saw beauty OF green velvet
about one inch wide. held in place at
the neck by a slide with a tiny basket
OF jewels while those holding the
rE-ned-11D ends were ffnE vrearhS of