Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-19

The spectators admitted to this function
show an unconcealed interest II a new
play of a popular author was to be given
the faces would not be more animated or
expectant. People stand about the walls
and in packed corners for hours without
showing fatigue. Women are in the ma
jority, but a fair s~prinkling of men separ-
ate the mass.
They are mostly of the commercial class,
buyers, representatives of celebrated
houses in Europe and America and a few
OF the leisure class, who have risked the
ennui Of a morning with wife or sister
to catch a glimpse of the celebrated
-manneQuins on duty-girls who are famed
for some special beauty OF face, figure OF
grace. II not including in their equipment
of feminine accomplishments all three.
The hush that precedes the entrance of
the first mannequin resembles that which
proceeds the rising of the curtain on the
opening act of a much-advertised play. The
only space left in the suite of rooms is the
aisle through which the girls are to walk,
and In addition to the guests are many
members OF the ~dressmaking staff, who
have come from fitting and finishing rooms
TO note II every detail is correct. They
carry their weapon OF office, long shears
and spools of thread, pencils and pins,
their workaday skirts and plain blouses
are covered with aprons, tneIr hair is
neatly, but not fashionably, arranged and
their figures are In striking contrast to
those of the moSels, and yet your guide
explains that a position Of this kind in the
establishments is often the outcome of a
beginning there as a mannequin.
This may explain the look of intent in
terest on their faces as they watch the
procession Of beautiful girls and note the
ohsl and ahsl of admiration which fire.
quently break the silence. It other times
the staff shows to the studlous glance the
indescribable knowing manner Of the
Partisan business women, VINO, with cold,
level ~glances, appraises your exact finan-
cial value and with courteous words and
smiling lips that belle the glance compli-
ments you for your residence on the planet
while she permits you to see the absolute
~inutility Of attempting to get the best of
trained judgment in any particular.
The mannequins enter the room with
the peculiar gliding walk that is learned
in the show rooms. 1t is designed to ex-
hibit every artistic line of the costume,
every aesthetic drsping of material. 1t is
as distinct in its way as the walk Of the
sRNa 81 III a AAAahAGaA NbAAANhN anu bAANE
learned is never after forgotten.
Charming as the gowns are you are less
interested for the moment in them than
you are in the wearers, whose manner is
as perfect in technique as If gained by the
instruction of a stage directir. In spite of
the fact that even the dinner and ball
gowns are shown in the daylight rather
than by artificial light the mannequins
are all made up, the lips heavily crimsoned,
the eyes blackened, the brows delicately
pencilled.
There is no rule Of coiffure established
each face and style is studied and the
hair arranged to suit. One has a multi
plicity of little curls and puffs through
which garlands OF ribbon or flowers OF
perhaps a flat wreath Of ivy leaves is run
One is simply arranged in the style made
famous by cleo de Merode; one head is
wound about with strands Of loose hair
a late novelty of hair dressing, another
has the equally popular braid, a profusior
Of puffs and not the slightest vestige OF
the pompadour. which seems to have lost
its popularity although it Is by no means
rigidly excluded.
The girls walk about the rooms slowly
and without apparent knowledge tha
they are scanned admiringly, curiously
pitilessly, as the case may be. Some.
times they walk close to you and stand