The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-03
M E N, w o M E N
 A ND HIN c s

to sit quietly by and let the Ameri- can trade slip out of their hands be- cause for the time being the influx of visitors from these shores is some what slowed.
 The French are truly wonderful people. This I learned in the time l spent among them when lad and in the later years as a student in the Latin Quarter. In art, music and literature they have much to be proud of, but at present l am not thinking of them along cultural but commercial lines. It may be true that In volume of trade tho English far excel their Gallic neishbors, and in turning out machine and oeIed stuff the Teutons had them beat, but in the realm of the truly artistic there is style and finish to French articles of merchandise which is tne Gesrair of competing nations. | In the realm of commerce, just as Tn the wtr T of manners, therc is a s5me- thi lg in the French nation which IS best described In the term chic" It is, however, an indescribable some thing which is felt and seen both ln society and in the avenues of trade. This is why Paris is the mecca for business and entertainment. Having said this much, l make one 1 field of catalogue making the French have much to learn from their Ameri- can cousins. who have carried the mall order business to such astounding pro- portions as to really make it. a menace to the regular channels of the retail but even In cities.
 
 For many years as a publisher had my office in printing establishments and kept in close touch with the prog ress. both in newspaper, magazine and catalogue making, and the things be- ing turned out in America, and even here in Birmingham are really achieve nents or which any country might we'll be rroud. III not name any special instances as I do not wish to be in vidious hy singling out my close per sonal friends.
 I got to thinking along these lines a catalogue bearing a foreign stamp, which. upon being opened, proved to be from the Grand Magazine du Louvre, an institution dear to the heart of every American woman who has put foot in the French capital as being one of many pleasant hours in shopping or Hooking through the stores.
 | I used to potter around in 1t quite a bit. I well recall that as boy I came near dying of heart failure nearly l 40 years ago when I went up to what would correspond with our soda wate.- fountains and ordered a soft drink, and asking for ticket was surprised to find that 1t was on the house" and that no one ever thought of offer ing to pay save the Americans. l I do not know how the mail order end of the great mercantile emporium
 
 some friend or agency sent it in, as got book of summer fashions from it. True to my rule of opening all matter which Uncle Sam leaves for mo | I tore away the cover and was soon perusing it as eagerly as though I of coming out outfit or bride on the r. A
 lookout for a trousseau.
 The cover design Is in colors and quite "F'renchy." The two damosels are gowned in the latest French ere ations, and their willowy figures be- token the true Parisiennes, while the diaphonous materials of the dress and the shortness of the skirts give evil dence that if there be such thing as censors in the gay capital they are not functioning in this postwar period when so many questions of morals are left suspended, as it. were. until the times of normalcy return
 I have always taken an interest Tn women's dress, and believed in al.. lowing them large latitude In wearing whatever to them seemed proper. wasn't long in turning the pages and noting the coats, tailored suits, out door gowns, smart dresses, evening frocks. indoor gowns, sport coats. hlouses. for on each page dainty models were showing them of to the best ad- vantage, and didn't wonder that wom- | en adored such things
 ss
 | I hope will be believed when I say that on reaching the 1ouble page de- voted to ladies underwear that I was i gentleman enough to skip them and the other unmentionables. which fol- lowed for several pages until I Ereached laces, ribbons. silks, feathers and flowers, gloves and stockings, jewery, parasols, perfumes, handker- chiefs, linens upon which I could look without imperilling my status as preacher
 Yes, there was one page devoted to mems apparel, but the French, while setting fashions for the feminine world. have never been able to become arbi- ters in the kingdom of men, and has always had to look with jealous eye across the channel to London. scanned the page closely, but without the least desire to buy. as, without question a better assortment can De frrrr md t% t- ---F