The New York herald., 1921-12-25
TeaCn
Americans in Paris Attend
Holiday Dinners and Dances
Mrs E. Berry Wall Entertans at Tea for Duchess de
Taleyand and the Misses O'Connor-Mrs John
r. Drexel Gives Bridge Party

less every little nook and corner In
Paris that might be called a shop is
crowded, and 1t Is a well known fact
that visitors to shC in Paris must be
purchasers, for the shopkeepers do not
hold receptions and display their goods
merely to delight the throng. When q
Partisan merchant Is told that a
stranger may enter New York shop
and have a saleswoman show her every
object in the shop. though she has no
inteation of buying, he gazes at you
with an unbelieving stare. and makes
a mental note of the fact that you are
one of those "crazy Americans"
The displays in all of the shop win
dows such as the Galleries Lafayette.
the Printemps, the Bon Marche, the
Trois Quarters and the Grand Magasin
du Louvre are as elaborate as ever, and
the grownups as well as the children
have taken whole day off to visit these
very unusually interesting exhibitions.
The Paris shops never have had the
reputation Of displaying their things to
advantage. One who is accustomed to
the New York shops with their remark
able displays always wonders during
Eer first visit to the French capital why
every woman in the world longs to shop
in Paris. 1t is only after she learns that
much OF elaborate displays and that
their best and most beautiful things re-
main hidden away that she can recon-
cile herself to the difference.
At Christmas time, however, feature
is made Of displays in the big shop
windows which probably surpass any
thing Of the sort in any part of the
world. They do not exhibit articles
merely for the purpose Of drawing pur-
chasers. The exhibitions arc conducted
as they would be in a museum and every
person in Paris. young or old, large
or small, rich or poor. considers 1t his
or her sacred duty to see them. They
are always wonderful in scenic effects
and usually bear on the history Of
France, never losing sight Of the fact
that they must be as instructive as they
are picturesque.
Romantic Alsace. with its gorgeous
mountain scenery. colorful costumes and
ancient battlefields. is always favorite
subject for a window and never fails
to be of the greatest interest. It's his
tory is usually pictured from its settle
ment to the present day in a series
of windows with dolls showing the
various costumes of the centuries. and
the life and development of the country
Is depicted In the smallest details Other
picturesque parts of France are richly
reproduced, but rarely does one see
scenes from any foreign country which
helps to account for the fact that every
French child knows well his France
from the moment he learns to talk.
For the last week these displays
have been drawing such crowds that 1t
has been necessary to issue tickets and
the sidewalks in front of the windows
rallied off in rows and each ticket repre-
senting a place to stand. as In theater.
Within the stores there Is the same
constantly moving crowd of shoppers
and they appear to be making as many
purchases as ever, though the prices are
still high and there are many more ap-
peals for charity than in previous years.
Charity sales and bazaars are occupying
every minute of the day and some of the
merchants are turning thei- shops over
to charity organizations for day to
make the sales and prices as they please,
reserving for themselves half of the
profits. The Samartainc stores in the
Boulevard des Capucnes have been
placed at the disposal cf La Bienvenue
Franchise for two days of the week
and Nine. Boas de Jouvenel, the secre-
tary and general manager OF the organ
ization, is soliciting all Of Paris to re-
serve their purchases for those two
days.
Time is so pressing that shopping at
night has been invited at a new estab-
lishment in the Champs -Elysees. 1t is a
new kind of shop. which has just been
opened for the sale of specialties of
number of the leading houses of Paris.
From in the morning until mid
night this pavilion of luxury will be
open on Sundays and fetes as well as
week days, so the Parsienne can shop
when she pleases regardless of the clock
or calendar. In addition to the usual
run Of articles for Christmas gifts, furs
and dresses are displayed on wax fig
ares and the shop has the appearance
of being a permanent affair. The French
say the idea was borrowed from Amer
lea, and they think it will certainly be
popular in Paris. The brightly illumi-
mated Pavilion des Champs Elysees at
least makes an attractive and pleasant
break in the monopoly hitherto enjoyed
by motor car makers in this handsome
quarter.