The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-12-27

while even the cheapest garment
those as low as six or seven francs,
were embroidered by hand, the gar
ment itself was made by machinery,
the seems carelessly stitched and the
buttons half off. She thought of the
poor women in the converts where
most of the work is DONE How poor
ly paid they must be to embroider
such inferior goods.
She looked first for some dainty,
low-necked night dresses with short
butterfly sleeves, but she saw only
ungainly garments with high necks
and long sleeves. Was this the much
lauder Paris lingerie?
At last in some glass cases where
the most expensive models were dis
played. she found some exquisite low
necked, short sleeved gowns.
How much? Duel prix?'' Helen de-
manded of a passing clerk, pointing to
a garment in the case.
The girl opened the case and look
ed at the ticket. Helen could not
understand her, but, STOPPING over, she
read the ticket herself-90 francs.
Eighteen dollars!
Helen tried to make her understand
with few words of French, much
English an dmany gestures that she
wanted go see some gowns of that cut
and much less expensive. The CIR
touched a loud gong, which was a
signal for an English speaking clerk,
and one promptly appeared.
Almost all of our low-necked and
short sleeved gowns are in the ex-
pensive models the clerk exnla cd.
But of course we have some for less
than 80 francs. Now here is qullc -.
pretty gown for 80 francs
Seven dollars! Except for her trous-
seaux, Helen had never paid seven
dollars for a nightgown in her life.
And she had no intention of paying it
In Paris, where she had expected to
get things ridiculously cheap.
We'll. I'll let the nightgowns go for
the present, but I'd like to see some
combinations and skirts"
about what price does madam wish
to pay?" asked the clerk with lessen
ing cordially, for she chad expected
Americans not to object to prices.
about three or four dollars-fif-
teen or twenty francs"
They're all out on the tables,
madam. We keep only the more ex-
pensfve ones in this department"
But I could never button these,
explained Helen, viewing with dis
favor the combinations, which all
opened in the back 'And they're all
to large-I want 34.''
"You won't fine bust measures in
Paris like you have in America. We
have only three sizes here. You see
they are marked with tickets-the
green is small, the pink ticket med
ium and the yellow ticket large"
Only One Purchase.
Helen expressed her establishment
that in Paris. where fit and style were
supposed to be perfected, they should
have only three sizes instead of the
by every American store.
The intention to buy enough lin
gerie while IN Paris to last her for
the next two years was somewhat
shaken. And she finally left the de-
partment, having made just one pur-
chase-a white skirt, with a hand
embroidered flounce. Even this she
could not get the right length. It
would have to be shortened when she
got it home.
From the lingerie, Helen walked
down the broad marble staircase to
the gallery below. Just at the foot
of the stairs were a doze nor more
tables -burdened with parasols.
She had never seen so many para
soils together in her life. Most of
them were brilliant in coloring and
design, vivid reds, bright greens and
startling blues.
Further on was a gorgeous display
Of scarfs-tfle long chiffon scarfs that
the French women wear with their