The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-26
SHE CLOTHES THB ELDERLY
A SOUTHERN WOMAN'S IDEA
FOR A SPECIALITY SHOP.
An Ages PFSvldsd ToP. she Pound. Except
the Women % 50 90 sem Edueation
IN DPessmaklng negun IN the Senth'
Continued here and Ended IN Paris.

On wFeasmnklnE MeInn N tno R~1tn'
Continued Here and Ended IN Paris.
I'VE have managed 70 get several
thousand dollars invested since We
opened our specially shop for elderly
wOmen's costumes four years ago,
young woman who u at the head Of a
dreasmaking establishment IN a southern
city told the reporter when asked 10 give
some Of the details Of her work. They
said az the start that We would fail because
no woman cared 20 acknOWledge that ahe
was elderly. That may be a fact. though
we haven yet found Il keeping customers
I from us
4 am responsible Tor tho speciality.
had been working in tho dresaniak-
ing business for mors than ten years
when decided the time had come for me
20 get out and found business ofmy own.
Beginning "a errSnd girl. | had worked
up 10 filter and then % manager. next in
authority 90 the head Of the establishment
After making up my mind 20 work for
myself. the next question was 10 get a
partner. and had 20 come 10 New YORK
10 do that. My first reason for coming
herr was 20 see how the dressmakinG bus
mess was conducted.
Though had not intended 10 remain
more than a few weeks, before the end Of
the first week had determined TO get a
place IN some fashionable shop and stay
at least one season 20 get experiences.
after working In a shop for two sea
sons determined 20 go abroad and man
aged 20 get my s1penses for a three
weeks trip 10 Paris paid by going az assist
ant 10 the buyer Of the house. Az the end
Of that three weeks had made up my
mind 90 spend a whole year In Paris.
Having learned the New York methods
/ wanted 10 be az well informed in those
Of the Paris dresamakers. After a hunt
81 ten days was able 20 get employment
in a dressmaking establishment az one
third the wages | had received in New
/ York and about half what I had received
in the South.
The first thing had 20 learn was
French economy in the way Of living
other women appeared 20 live and dress
themselves on what | was being paid,
and determined IN do 10 also.
TO accomplish this left the boarding
place where l had been living and tOok
room along with several women en-
ployed in tho same establishment. In the
south We have a saying about slSinninR
a flea for his hide and tallow. Well.
learned 20 do that while living with
those French dressInakets
I Though we lived very well both as Ia
food and clothes We had a small amount
20 lay by az the end Of each month and also
had money enough 20 90 10 the opera
and theatres. All our buying Of food wa
done together for the sake 81 greater
saving.
When tell you that never saw thoso
women throw 70 much a. an eggshsl
away you " m understand how careful
they were with the least morSel. The most
delicious dishes those French dressmaksrs
Concocted wgrs from scraps Of food that
we In this country would have thrown
away.
Their economy In household matters
Wa only sample of the way things were
managed In each department ~ that drpss-
/
| anvthing hut what was put 20 Use and
always 10 tho retirement u the garment
on which u was employed. newell a moment
% our time that We were allowed 10 sit
| idle II VIA like living in a new world all
/ around. and On the whole. after becoming
] accustomed 10 II, found u pleasant a.
/ Eell "a instructive
4 had thought IL was impossible for
people 70 turn out more work than the
| dreSsmaling establishment where had
/ worked in New York and often ! used ~
compare the way they worked With the
way We did Il in the south In my mind
| I had given all the managers the name ~
slave drivers While they got more work
oul ~ their workers ~ that Paris shop
/ han IN the shop in New York No one could
ever have thought ~ calling them slave
| drivers. for the reason that everything
vas conducted quietly and in perfect svs-
tenn. They cconOmiyed time and energy
Just a. they did food and all other mate
/ rails
AFTER two years in Paris returned %
/ New Work and accompanied by a woman
/ Who had dscidnd 20 Try her luck A. my part
ner In the business l returned 10 the South
and opened up What We believe 20 be the
| Nnly shop % the country devoted eNCiu-
| siysy 81 making Costumes for women over
/ 80 n there h. such q shop In Paris or
! London ! have never heard 81 IL.
My reason foT selecting This specially
"a ~ that everywhere ] have work ed
| have noticed that elderly women are neg
/ 'eCtad when Il comes To making them
smart fr0Css and suits so long A. they
/ dre-. BOO mourning " IL an easy matter for
them % PIT the sm1rtest sort 81 clothes
| Of an description. but once let them put
on oolo-~ and they are forced either ~
| take suits and gowns suited onlv ~ the
dehutapte ~ a. have the hest materials
! twisted into dOwdy garments that add
many years 10 their age
"A We have speciality ahops 81 all
sorts and III ages | saw M rpaSon WHY
elderly wonien should he neglected
I Wy partner ard ! each put t3O0 into the
| business. aud more than half of my share
vas already spent before left Paris