Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-19

her patronage and that of her friends, so
often made in the new world. has less
than significance here.
Tn story that the Worth house was
saved years ago, when the combined at
tack on its finances by the Franco-Prus
sian war and the nearly de-
stroyed it, by the order Of an American
millionairess is still historic, but in the
same breath the director of the house who
admits this will not admit that the same
thirg could happen today and states that
the fortunes of Spain and of the South
American countries, of Russia and Of Asia
tic court circles pour into its Golfers with
a Eberality as marked as that made no.
tOrious by Americans.
Let a stranger come to one of these
houses today, no matter how elegantly
gowned." says another manager inter-
viewed, mo matter with what display of
equipage or letters of introduction from in
f%luential patrons, the short delay that is
asked for while she waits in one of the
many reception rooms or is engaged in
preliminary conversation Win one and an
other of a courteous staff is really taken
advantage of to discover her exact status
by a method which is carried on here with
the perfection that marks the espionage
of the most watchful and tricky city in
the world.
"The recent panic in America is respon-
sible for the increased care displayed in
dealing with your wealthy class. Some OF
the failures had far-reachlng effects. as far
as the boulevards. At present all the
modistes keep in their business offices de-
tailed memorandum concerning the finan,
cial standing Of every woman who buys
largely Of the establishments in Paris, but
this custom is followed as well by Jewell
ers, furriers and even the antique dealers.
One American writer not long ago COM
menting on this fact observed, Thus is
the Bertillon system applied to society -
You think OF what another writer has
said, giving modern Paris an accurate de-
scription in calling II the Market of Vani-
ties" as you a k your allotted seat in
one of the salons Of a celebrated establish
ment on the occasion Of one Of these pre-
mieres.
1t is half past 10 in the morning, an
early hour for fashionable women to be
visible, but there is already a crush at the
door, nearly ever seat is taken and a sug-
gestion that in a few seconds the space
allotted to the standees will alsa be
crowded. on your way to your chair you
have had the pleasure Of listening to the
arguments, entreaties and final irritation
Of a f~ashionably gowned woman not IN
known to the pages Of Who's Who" who
cannot believe that the mention of heI
name will not be sufficient for her admis,
sion,
She suggests at length payment for heI
seat, a generous offer paralleling a pur'
chase Of an orchestra chair for the opera
This too is blandly refused. She mentions
the names of a long list of purchasing
friends extending from New York to SaI
Francisco, but even the prestige Of the alb.
sent is insufficient to aid the present anC
she has finally to accept defeat.
III she would come back in a few days
says the voice OF a Fifth avenue dress
maker at your elbow, "she could Obtain
admission. The rules are relaxed. Sh'
won see just the same gowns, but there
will be plenty OF beautiful ones exhibited
then-for the second presentations. %
course now only the very select ones arr
on view. In some Of the houses the Ger
man representatives are not shown thu
models until several days auer the Ameri
can clients, for the reason that their near
ness 10 Paris makes il possible for tn
costumes to be copied Immediately and ex
hibited before the modes are fairly &C
cepted here