Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-06
PHILADELPHI FUR BILL
JUMPS TO S5,OOO,OOO
Everybody Wears Them and
Prices Have Scared on
Demand
WAR PARTLY TO BLAME

When Mrs Cavewoman cuddIed up to Mr.
Caveman and murmured II would have
turs' Mr.. Caveman went out. ciubbed a
bear over the head and got them And for
long time afterward he wasn't annoyed by
a FUR bill
Philadelphia Is somewhat different. for It's
iur bill this wear Is going TO be in the neigh
borhood Of $4,000. 900 Everybody ia buy.
ing them, and dealers say Il has been the
nest year in the history OF the business.
Women seem 10 be fur crazy, they say and
no longer regard furs as luxuries. but as
absolute necessities
Like everything else ftirs have advanced
IN price Some have doubled while Others
nave experienced only slight advance. The
war OF course, is blamed for much Of the
advance. but on some OF tho Amer,ea,
products dealers lay the blame solely on
the large demand
Philadelphia matrons are buying expen-
slNe turs this season and lots OF them
@ @one large hrm said that ten OF ia Gus
toners had purchased silver fox acts worth
SsOOO each, while fifteen had bought seal
SKIN coats ranging from $500 inward
hudson Bay sealskin coats seem 10 be the
most popular this year, according to thia
,,, mrnl, ranging In price from 500 to $500.
Moieskln coats also are popular bringing
from $3.50 to $500. Mink coats arc niore
expensive, but none the less popular, at
NS'o to 5000. Motor coats OF leopard rae
coon ana beaver are selling without trouble
w Fii'VN ranging from tt3h TO 5000.
Ihere have also been several sales OF furn
mat are worth fortunes Among these h
the natural black fox fur the rarest on the
market Black fox ranges in price n SGT
from 5000 to $4,000 and higher Another
rare iur Is the silver fox which brings from
'oOu To S4OOO, stu another OF the expen-
slve varieties ls the Russian sable. mora
numerous than the black fox, but niunoat
as expensive, Russian sable ia valued NJ
from $500 to $4,000 set. two skins 10 a
set
OF all the furs the moleskin gives the
least wear Dealers will not guarantees IL
nnd II sometimes wears out within n year.
holng very delicate TO rubbing or hard
wear. Those that wear best are seaIs<in.
fisher, skunk. raccoon and kolnslSy the
new RUSSIAN fur that is In vogue this sea-
SON
The furs that have seen probably the
biggest jump are the Holland and Scotch
moleslSins. both of which have risen mora
than 500 per cent in price. This fur is used
extensively In trimming the edges OF
dresses collars and cufrs, and Is In great
demand
Another fur that has gone un consider
AMY ~ the FOX tur In desirable shadea
which has advanced nifty seventy-five and
In some Instances 100 per cent In price
kolinsky has gone up 100 per cent because
OF the war. and Hudson seal has llmped
nearly fifty per cent
Philadelphia women own fortunes in furs
Mrs Frank clyde. OF Bryn Mawr IL said TO
have the most beautiful set OF silver fox in
this vicinity valued at several thousand dol
lars Mrs clyde Is the mother OF Mira
George McFadden. Mrs. George Drexel Ia
the owner OF a set OF black fox fur valued In
many figures. handsome collection OF
sahles II owned by Mrs u. n Stotesburv
Mrs Rodman wanamaker Is the possessor
Of an erinine coat lined with Russian sable.
valued ut above the 100000 mark
The demand for furs Is laid TO the general
prosperity OF the country, and also the con-
Seryatire styles this year. which do away
win the necessity OF having furs remod-
eled each year TO keep up with the times
Philndelphu's annual fur bill has been H.
the neighhorhood or 100000 but this
year dealers say, II will 20 So 900. 600
higher, This city is third In the fur trade
being preceded by New York and Chicago