Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-16

satisfaction at any Of the goods, for
If he should intend to invest the wo-
man is sure to raise the price, and be
unwilling to come down, so sure Is
she of a sale.
The best antiquities are very, very
dear that is, If real antiquities may be
found. Counterfeiting has become such
a dignified and moneyed profession
in Europe that even the best connois-
seurs are often deceived. may as
we'll add that clients in these estab-
lishments are rarely composed Of
French people, who are fully alive to
the tricks of their race. Papers ana
/ any amount Of genuine data are fur
nished a would-be purchaser. but
these same papers amount to- nothing
| whatsoever.
One wonders why secondhand fur
niture Is in such a splendid state Of
preservation in all the shops, for
though there are sometimes indica-
tions Of mending, it Is done so neatly
that the good effect is not injured. All
these merchants are ebenistes. or cab
inetmakers, by trade, and as soon as
a purchase of worn or broken furni-
ture is made, 1t Immediately goes to
their atelier, to appear later pieced,
patched, missing carving or mother
Of pearl supplied; varnished-as
whole, in a perfect state Of preserva-
ton. The grand establishments
around the big boulevards and Made
leine are owned by rich merchants
who have skilled workmen in their
employ.
Furniture Of all kinds Is exception
ally dear in Paris. One reason why
is because nearly all the wood is i'm
ported. The cabinet and furniture
makers Of France are famous, and
artists in the trade can, and generally
do, command their own price. Mir
rors are much used In ornamental
! ton, and, for some reason or other,
are almost double in price what they
are in America.
One may find almost anything de-
sired In these second hand shops.
The pieces come to Paris from all
parts of France, for people living out
side consider the market for them
highly advantageous, and often, rath-
er than have their neighbors know
they are disposing Of family goods,
ship them to Paris.
Perhaps the most interesting shops
are those near the Odeon, devoted
mostly to wardrobes, tables and buff
fets de Normandie. 1t Is the general
impression that the best carving and
cabinetmaking in the provinces come
from Normandy. Life there Is cheap,
the workmen are paid only a third
what they demand in the capital, and
consequently the pieces turned out by
them are not comparatively dear.
Wardrobes from ten to twelve feet
high, in which small family might
hide, with splendidly carved doors
and drawers, may be seen at any Of
these stalls. The buffets, too. are
enormous. The wood Of any or. the
very old ones may be porous from
worms, and age Is written over the
entire surface, for If anything be gen.
uine in the trade 1t is they.
But 60 into any Of the homes OF
French people in Paris, and you Will
find few Of these wares Those In or
dinary circumstances or those con-
sidered rich seek for new wares, = n
orally Part nouveau finish'ngs. Per-
haps the latter represent the nouveau
richie, which do not wish antiquities,
not appreciating their value. or
course the aristocracy own such
pieces, which are handed down from
generation to generation, but when a
purchase Is made these days It is for
a change to something less heavy and
more modern.
The big department stores all car
ry good choice Of furniture, though
strictly up to date. AS to the new es-
Establishments or "camelottes, as the
French style them, that do bushes
on the exterior. boulevards, it Is best
to keep away from them II one wants
fair dealing and substantial wares,
Their articles are snowy, cheaplook-
ing, and If not satisfactory there Is
absolutely no redress. The little places
that display wonderful advertising
have only following Of certain
class. It is the idea prevalent here
that good houses have their own cli-
entele, and do not have to resort to
the artifices Of loudly calling the at
tention of the public to their wares.