The Washington herald., 1914-01-11
THE MANEQURVS OF
FASHION CENTERS
Employed by Chief Modistes Of Paris,
Berlin, and Vienna as Walking
Adverfisements.
ny Il. M. NEWMAN.

In the three chief fashion capitals OF
Europe-in Paris, Berlin. and Vienna
there is a class of women who at glance
seem to represent the ultrafashionable,
ultrarich, and especially noteworthy
members of the nobility. When casual
American travelling abroad sees one OF
these women for the first time she asks
in whispered awe: rs that a member OF
the royal family?" And the Partisan or
Viennese whom she asks, says. after a
sharp glance: 20, no. my dear, royalty
doesn't know how to dress like that.
That Is a manequin.
This manequin has every air and
every grace which the countess or the
princess who envies her style has in
herited through generations of nobility.
Her carriage is as supple and graceful,
her air as dignified and regal. her smile
as subtly co1descending as the princess
own She is gowned as the princess
could never hope to be, and wears her
clothes as only the chosen few may.
These young women. employed by the
chief modistes and noted designers to
art as walking advertisements and to
display to the best advantage the shops
creations. belong to a class in themselves.
With little in their heads, practically no
inherited Intellectual possibilities. without
the advantages OF refined early environ
ment, they SO accurately copy and imi-
tate the bearing and conduct Of ia
grande dame" that often one mistakes
the one for the other.
just Animated BiIIboards.
These models are not saleswomen in
any sense of the word-they are en-
ployed simply to show OF the garments
and by their elegance of manner and air
later lead to sales.
They are put through vigorous course
of training in the beginning of their ca
reer, and this is as strict and rigid all
through their employment as the train
ing which an athlete subscribes to. They
eat only certain things, they walk and ex-
ercise, they throw heavy weights above
their heads, they practice sitting and
rising, standing and bending. A man.
equin must primarily preserve the lines
of her figure and most continually train
to make herself supple in carriages and
give herself poise and ease She must
stand by the hour in front of the mirror
and study her facial expressions, OBJ
serve her mannerisms, and note every
move Of her body. She must try to i'm
itate to the life the smiles, the pouts, the
lifted eyebrows and the distinguished
GESTURES of the women of the realm of
society.
Many of the best maneQuins are
brought from Vienna The designers
claim that the girls of the best physique
and the best natural carriages come from
this city and consequently they train
there and then take them in large groups
to Paris and Berlin.
Recently there was a sensation in
Paris caused by the advent of an un-
usually attractive woman. This tall, slen-
der girl. accompanied by a maid, went
TO Paris from nobody knew where, reg
fstered at the Ritz. and was seen only
once day, driving TO the Bois and then
walking for perhaps fifteen minutes fol-
lowed at a respectful distance by her
maid.
All the habitues of the Bois talked about
her. No one so graceful, no one so ex-
Quisite, no one SO beautiful had been
seen that whole season. Who was she?
Une grande mystere! And then she ap-
peared at the races wearing the su-
preme creation Of the day. An enor-
nous crowd followed her, of which she
seemed uttedly unconscious.
Trained for a Year.
Then suddenly she disappeared. No one
knew where. The maid, questioned by
reporters and enthusiastic gentlemen, dis
creetly disclosed just enough to arouse
curiosity. More questions and cautiously
hidden tips ELECTED the reply that Mime.
La Comtesse had been in mourning for
year and this was her first entry into
society and incidentally the information
was slipped out that this new form of |
draped gown was from-and she men,
TONED the name of a well-known de- |
signer.
1t afterwards appeared that this girl |
hf > been hidden in Vienna for a year
pracucing daily her every steI when
she should get to Paris. She had been
attended by beauty doctors, masseues,
and physical trainers She was ready 10 |
conquer the great fashion metropolis.
The training of these girls is not left
entirely to the women in charge of the
various sections of the dressmaking es-
tablishment The men whose designs
have made their names famous wherevs sr
there are well-dressed women take a
personal interest in the way of name
quins carry themselves and teach them
little tricks which are as effective on the
manequin stage as they are in real life.
Poiret, for inst taught Andre |
Paris best-known model, most of the
little mannerisms which have made her
famous. One Of her little tricks which
always gets over'' is to enter a room
robed In gorgeous wrap. This she un-
fastens at the throat and lifts from the
shoulders, letting II snip carelessly to the
floor as she walks on without a back
ward look.
The one principle which Poiret instiIls
is disdain and contempt of the clothes
which are being exhibited.
Editors note: Mr.. Newman's travel
talks this season will lie given at the Co.
lumbia Theater on five successive Sun
day evenings and Monday afternoons,
commencing January is and 19.
Cassba Salad.
Take a cssaba melon. now procurable
at nearly all fruit stands. cut it in half.
scoop out the inside by teaspoonfuIs and
place them on ice to chill Make some
cheese balls, adding few chopped nuts,
a dash of sugar and a tablespoonful of ,