Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-26
English Peeresses Employ Tai
ents in Money-Making.
THEIR PLUCK COMMENDED
Upper Glasses Represented in Bust
ness Enterprises.
TRIM HATS AND SELL BL0UsEs
Crafty Methods Adopted for Attract
ing Trade-Grande Dame Gives
Advice to Friends.
D CORRESPONDENCE Of The Star.

Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON, December IA. 1910.
In London We have become quite &C
customed to the idea of aristocratic
shopkeepers and while they are not all
successes, their number increases every
season There are several peeresses con-
Quoting bonnet shops with success in
fashionable thoroughfares. and more than
one daughter OF ''belted carr makes
teashop pay. In England those trading
members of the aristocracy are not criti-
cised for their efforts to make money, but
are rather applauded for their CLEVER
ness and pluck But, then, did not
Napoleon say that the English are a ma
ton of shopkeepers? Samuel Johnson. who
said so many wise things, remarked
once that there were few ways in which
man or woman could be more inno
Gently employed than in getting money"
Doubtless many a noble lord or his lady
would be kept out of mischief if they had
a shop to attend to.
Trading is a dignified and praiseworthy
occupation. which is more than can be
said Of some Of the pastimes of smart
society folk. and their undignifed con-
duct-betting. gambling and talking slang
is, fast losing them the respect that has
for centuries been considered due to their
rank.
One View of the Conditions.
A prominent public man in England
gave it as his opinion lately that when
the upper classes made no effort to sup
port their rank with dignity. they should
not complain If they were not treated
with respect by those beneath them in
SOciS1 he
position of the shopkeeping peer or
peeress is incongruous, and it is unfair
that those who keep shop should de-
mand exceptional treatment from the
class that they have joined but refused
to identify themselves with.
In the early days of arfstocratic shop
keeping in London the flower shop and
the teashop, were the favorite ventures
well. Then a more enterprising peeress
remarked that you were not likely to
grow fat on flowers or tea and know
ing the enormous prices paid for really
to mipistering to the wants of her wealthy
sisters In this respect. She was the hap
Ply possessor Of hand" for trimming
hat. and her def fingers worked such
magic with feathers and bows-just CIV
ing the eft" and style that is supposed
to be the exclusive brthright of French
millinery-that in a few months time
her modes became famous, and her friends
and customers were willing to pay enor-
nous prices for her wares.
When this grand dame had we'll es-
tablished her reputation she was wont to |
give friendly advice to others of her |
class who aspired to such fame. my |
dear" she would say. situation. is the
situation, make every effort to secure a |
shop there, even il the rent is extrava- |
Gantly high. 1t wifi pay. you to be in a |
busy and fashionable thofoughfare.
Not Real Shop-Make-Believe
NO. 1 don't mean a, real shop, but a |
make-believe one, in appearance. Put a |
white board above the window with your |
name in neat, copper-plate characters, |
and-there, you are started. Next, dot |
permit the prying street to regard your
creations. Have a high oak-paneled |
screen in the window; make the public |
walk in to see your wares"
Indeed, these amateur shops have a |
pose quite their own in furniture and |
style, On entering the uninitiated GUS
toner might think that she had by mis-
take stepped into simply furnished |
drawing room in a private house.
The society shopkeepers who make their |
business a success specialize, as a rule, |
in a particular line, and devote all their |
fecting some item of feminine dress. The |
blouse is first favorite, owing to the end
less variety of style that it lends itself
to, and the scope that an inventive genius
has in creating one. No one who has not
visited an emporium sacred to the blouse
can ever imagine the heights OF perfec-
ton that this article of dress can soar
to. From simplest flannel, untrimmed.
but perfect in cut, to richest brOcade,
velvet and poplin: from simple tailor cut
to great, soft, bilowy effects of lace and
chiffon; from pure white to rainbow COM
binations Of colors, they are all equally
alluring.
They make you feel braced up to look
at them. even if you can't buy one lady
was heard to say to another when COM
ing away from a private view at her
friends shop.
The bonnet, hat. toque, shirt. skirt,
even the veil and necktie, have shops
devoted to their special cult in London.
and presided over by society women who
make them pay we'll The wares are
never displayed, even inside the shop.
but repose in the drawers of great oak
chests
The aristocratic shopkeeper gener-
ally finds that her society friends sup
port her though one gives it as her
opinion that their custom has its draw
backs They want. she says, too many
concessions, and are often unreasOn-
able in their demands. 1t is more diff
cult. too, to refuse Improbable trans
actions with friends than with strang-
ers.