File:The meccas of the world; the play of modern life in New York, Paris, Vienna, Madrid and London (1913) (14803609093).jpg

Identifier: meccasofworldpla01cran (find matches)
Title: The meccas of the world; the play of modern life in New York, Paris, Vienna, Madrid and London
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Cranston, Ruth
Subjects:
Publisher: New York, John Lane company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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tting one another. It may be a game that disgusts you, you may findit sordid, even repellent, to watch; but, among peoplewith whom the marriage of convenience is universal(and in most respects turns out excellently well),what can you expect ? A lover or a divorce, for bothparties; and the French man and woman prefer tomaintain the stability of house and name, and to winkat one anothers individual peccadilloes. They aregenerally very good friends, and devoted to theirchildren; and never, never do they commit that crass-ness of the Anglo-Saxon, in bringing their amourswithin the home. So let us watch the departing couples whirl awayfrom the little tea-room, without too great severity;and ourselves wander out into the Place, and up theshort, spectacular Rue de la Paix. This above allothers is the hour to see it—when fashion throngs thenarrow pavements, or bowls slowly past in open motorcars; and when the courts of the great dressmakersshops are filled with young blades, waiting for the
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THE CURTAIN RISES 111 mannequins to come down. One by one these mar-vellously slim, marvellously apparelled young personsappear; each choosing the most effective moment shecan contrive for her particular entrance into the twi-light of the street. A silken hum of skirts precedesher; the swains in the doorway eagerly look up—ad-just their scarf-pins, give a jauntier tilt to their top-hats—and the apparition, sweetly smiling and em-phatically perfumed, is among them. There are murmured greetings, a suggestion fromtwo of the bolder of the beaux, a gracious assent fromthe lady; and the three spin away in a taxi, to Armen-onville or Chateau Madrid, for dinner. They have avery pleasant life, these mannequins; for lending thefigure the bon Dieu gave them—or that they pains-takingly have acquired—they receive excellent salariesfrom the great couturiers. In consideration of whichthey appear at the establishment when they please,or not at all, when they have the caprice to stay away.If t

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