PERFECT LADY DRESSMAKERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 30, 30 October 1907, Page 5

PERFECT LADY DRESSMAKERS.

What arev called " perfect 'ladies " aro often 'madethe 'subject. of ridicule and sarcasm in 1 song arid 1 story. ; Often they hn'd themselves "after a " sheltered '"bringing up, and perhaps' a happy though brief marriage, compelled to'depend on their'own, exertions. In such case,''they might well become'dressmakers,'which'terni'may'be taken to include milliners arid saleswomen in general. : ' : •Their "ladylike " qualities shine brightly in 'the dressmaking profession;' ; A'/capable business' woman' too often Mevelops "a hard, aggressive manner, whiclv does ijot ; commend itself to her customers,' or'when she is very successful she acquires a listless, appearance, and has a habit of walking away in the'midst of; a (to the customer) most interesting conversation. ■.:■■-:.!'■■ ■■■' '■! .-■': .. ■ ■ . i To the perfect,lady .the attractive manner 'would,.be. ; nn,tural, ; , ;It is:;not: always maintain, tbis.attractiveness'.when one has'to deal;.with ..trying customers,; but...then'it. is . no,:-, ; use.-. going ; into' business : unless .one is. propared-to put .up..withi>aigoo3 deal Irorii exacting and;.capricious,.'women.; v';' •:_ ." £07 much, do.,theuhead&.-.of .firmsirecognise; the ,valu'e of a- polite .and.clever manner in' their: saleswomen that- in- London l it is the French who are in most demand arid command, the-largest; salaries nv the shops. A clever well-trained Frenchwoman makes her. customers find the ordering of a gown \'a pleasant occupation, i Her persuasive powers are worth- much money to the business, and her employer recognises this and rewards her accordingly. Nest- to personal'charm comes the personal appearance, of .the saleswoman. To be well dressed is.a more .vital,point than to be It is a,matter, of opinion whether or- riot.firms are' well-advised .in ordaining that' sllould dress in.!/black; ' Cer'atinly,''during., trying 'sum-. mer mouths,''white ,costumes' would 'look more "alluring -and be ; more : hygienic for the wearers. If a. riurse'.cari keep her uniform fresh at little, cost; why not' a, shop assistant ? A lady'.who.is in business on her own account may; please' herself >s to'.'her toilet; hilt it she' is ■ sensible-'slip' will always have! on someV • thing -fresh 'ftiid."bec'oniirig. She will got many orders from the gowns she wears, if she knowsVhpw .'to',wear tlicm. .''Even"if black is worn by' compulsion or':cboice, it need not be dull and unattractive. It must have an ' original" ;cffect and bo perfectly cut. The perfect lady—the one with good taste —is able to .advise, her, customers -as to the corrccj; drosses to wear ori 'different occasions. The ybung-girl or matron from the country, who, is expected ;to return I from,' the great metropolis,decked out in;tne'latcst.styles, reposes complete, confidence m; the-• city-Vlross-makor,.;lwho.-.jmist' bo equal;Ho the occasion, lhp, young girl Just out-will: want to be saved fromjxsing overdressed in the morning, to bo told what is-suitable for'the afternoon; and *? K n . ow . the difference .between a simple dinner,gown and a full evening dress. 'The lady;dressmaker, will help, a girl of this kind to make her.dress allowance stretch as far as possible,, Bcside's. wanting/-through ner perfect ladyhood, to ■' help Another shc;wil, by gaming the girl's confidence, lie doing the : surest thing, to gain her permanent custom. Then there-.is:.the woman' withplcnty of; money who 'wants to dress as society does but .does not .quite-know how; A lady r wp)l used to-.socioty' knows how to advise,, not only, instinctively; but'from personal observation of socialevents. "•" •' _ A few months atVthe least must be spent in thoroughly mastering ihe practical sido of the work. The saleswoman has to make'the' orders,pay. .The price, and quantities of-ma-torials and trimmings must be ' calculated for, each order, together with'-the"cost' of tie ; smallest details-on the dress; as;well as tho cost of making. This must be done" quickly and accurately. Showroom girls have to be managed with tact as'well as customers. It w when tho lady dressmaker or milliner launches into business on- her own account that.she finds tie oxoorience sf thoso wlio have gone before invaluable—for business history always repeats itSeJf. 'It takes Hl^,ii l rV V f oars '.L Ceerdin S to a competent auhor.ty, before the prospects of a business can really ;bc gauged, and it is a great risk, tp\start unless there is enough capital to tide over this .anxious time. .'A dressmaker is kept' . f I.ends who come either out of friendship or curiosity:?. Later on they may wish to sup??m'-. S lO ol ' • W i"! t *? giVO anotl '« r aim. a trinl. It is a mistake that has ruined lozens of women to launch out into 1 ylr premises :on the.strength of a' g6od : turnovlr \he first year. The lady .dressmaker is invariibly imposed upon by numbers of her friends vho no-payers. The onlv iourso to.adopt witlr tho customer who does lot pay:is to refuse further; orders from er Otherwise the lady dressmaker will find ""l her own.onplovoes) awl obliged to retire Tom a sccniingly highly prosperous career

For severe hcadacjic and .neuralgia,alio application.! of a cloth wrung out in hot water is 'good, but one ■ wet in very cold water will prove still -more, immediate'in its good effects. The chill deadens the nerves and tho pam is soothed. For insomnia, a towel, folded in four, wrung out in very eoid water, ice,, if possible,, and applied to. tho spine, will usually put the wakeful one to sleep. If one towel does not effect the desired result, try a- second, and even a third one, at fifteen-minute' intervals, placing a heavy bath' towel between the bed and "the wet application. The spine is closely united with the brain, and the soothing effect is said to travel from nervo to nerve.