AT THE FRANCO-BRITISH EXHIBITION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 262, 29 July 1908, Page 5

AT THE FRANCO-BRITISH EXHIBITION.

' .Paris and London havo had a great.battlo at the Franco-British Exhibition for supiem- ■ acy in artistic dress makuig, , and. Paris has won . beyond all question (saye the ' Age ). The- English newspapers have littlo to say' about it'. Their patriotism may have been touched, or their silpn'ce'.may be duo to. other ' reasons. V But. there is. only ; one opinion among 'ladies -who privately _ discussthe competition, - after making their own observat ion 3. .The ■ most notc-d iinn -of the Rue do la i-.Pais aiitl■•.•.■many 1 .-.other.:'-. Paris .houses !;•. show, their..choicest work' ; in a : - long gallery, . artistically : lighted : and somewhat 1 s resembihga ballroom^ A The: general 'effect of. the . display/ is brilliant arid 'imposing, and'far/ superior- as.a'.' spectacle .to : tho smaller "separate 'exhibits ! which the..- London/firms .show'; in _other buildings. The materials used : .by the dress makers of-both. - countries 1 are ■: almost equally good. .It is held that: the, superior art of the .French lies : mainly -in a certain/indefinable elegance -. of design and finish. In order to afford an interesting contrast 1 to his latest .."creations,',' one London'/ -.exhibitor shows examples .of the feminine attiro. worn at thejast hundreds-years'.. .The exhibition is rich' 'in very, beautiful "laces, . both /new andi old. A! "scarf /once worn -.by, Marie Antioriette, arid 'now,. the .property, 'of the Countess . of ' Jersey, /attracts .particular': attention,- and there are; numerous similar exhibits of historical as' : well 'as: great intrinsic value.-The lace ,ms?ers o£. Ireland and tho south of England show their, finest;. wares.; One flounce.of "point lace is marked , ias - having „/been v. sold. ■/-.for '-■ £450—'.'quite cheap/even at that," . .according, to many ladies -: who have cast longing , glances at' . it: . In '• one cprrier of the-•'Women's"Building . there'; is "a-small. collection /of art: exhibits, lent: by members ,• of. -the Royal Family and others,/which/is '/.estimated: .to: be worth £100,000. :It is kept under constant observa- • tion.by detectives. /■■''■'/: