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Show Magazine Section pe JMt Like a Story from the Arabian Nights Was Mme. de la Plantes Taste of Heavenly Ease in Multi-Millionai- re . Luxurious Home The Former Mr. Reid, Who He Jut Reids When-Ba- ng! Secured Her Divorce, i She Was in Most Distressing Trouble things In modern time equal extraordinary adventures told In the Arabian Nights, but Made molselle Georgette de la Plante, a very pretty and vivacious New York modiste, with a shop just off Fifth Avenue, has bad, she says, just such an amazing ex perlence as It would seem could only-havhappened to one of those enchanted heroines of the Oriental legends. For a week she a as lifted out of the work-a-da- y world Into a gorgeous luxury not excelled by any of the capricious caliphs of the Nights. Alas it usually happened In the ancient tales that the wondering favorites of fortune suddenly fell from their luxury and perfumed ease with an awful bump! And so It was with Mile, de la Plantel For a week. she reigned as chatelaine In the magnificent home of Daniel G. Reid, the Internationally known financier, multimillionaire and "Tin Plate King; reigned there In the stead of Mrs. Reid herself, and at Mrs. Reids own request. Mile, de la Plante bitterly observes. Then all of a sudden she found she had been all mixed up In divorce proceedings brought by Mrs. Reid against her very rich husband, which divorce proceedings have just been formally ended In favor of the said Mrs. Reid, who has had her decree granted her. It was a tremendous and unpleasant 7 told a maid I o draw the bath water . I taid I surprise for Mile, de la Plante, who had been buying things In Paris while the wanted a bath. She totted her head and refuted . divorce proceedings of Mrs. Reid were on. That it not my work, the told Too busy to read the newspapers, it was sot until she returned to New York that and had made smiling ed to a thousand dollar. many she learned that the servants whom she adieus. purchases In a moment 4he was back. ' She When they were leaving, Mr. had dlreoted during the weeks stay as said: "Mile. Georgette, I have brought Reid was most gracious. He chatelaine had gone upon the stand and you a new customer. I met her down the said: Mile. Georgette, anyblock, and brought her right In. Be nice thing I can do to help your told very distressing stories about her and to Mrs. Reid, wont you V business I will be delighted to (t I j Mr. Reid. do. I hope' you will accept my sold Mrs. I thus it ell "It began. And right there Mile, de la Plante deRetd two hats. She was charmed with wife invitation to dine with parted from her, role of Arabian Nights them. While ! was talking with her a us. Make our home your heroine. Back in those times when the telegram arrived. It told me that a home! So he eald. The gatea of the enchanted awakened former favorite of fortune cousin of mine1 had died. I sighed and said nothing, hut within castle, it will he seen, were belaid it down. she that way. At an hour after Mrs. Reid had gone I re- ginning to open. usually stayed bumped, least there the story closed and no one ceived a long box. It was filled with "Mrs. Retd telephoned me knew what happened to the unfortunate beautiful llllies In R was her card, and end asked me to lunch or dine maiden afterwards. But not so Mile, de la above her name was written: Wlthmy with her very often after that. They wanted me to run In any sympathy. . Plante. She went immediately to a most sincere time I liked. Mrs. Reid said, In the fantasies of the Nights Even so capable New York attorney, Edward J. did the enchantments jisually begin with 1 love to have you at the and started proceedings at once the gift of a magic flower! house, dear Georgette. It la to open up the case. "And after that, went on Mila Geor- - so pleasant for Mr. Reid. You life Into the house.' In legal verbiage, she made a deposition gette, "Mrs. Reid came often to my shop. bring The magic was working. covering eleven pages and employing ,She made many purchases. She was ex- From the back room of her hundred words and every thirty-thre- e She ceedingly kind; even affectionate. word to the point. - Mile, de la Plante is would come In and greet me with a kiss. shop, just around the corner from Fifth avenue, she had now on'the high seas again on her way She eald again and again, Dear Georbeen lifted to the home of a so to France, but she filed this deposition are gette, you charming that it lifts man whose fortune Is comwith the Supreme Court before she went my spirits just to see you. " and that tribunal has Issued an order di"One day I had been creating models. I puted at $30,000,000. Instead of creating moueia until her eyes and fingers recting Mrs. Reid, the divorced wife, to was very tired. I was In th little back ached, she wore the prettiest gowns and show cause why the case should not be room still working hard at, my designs Mrs. sat at a table where ahe was served from pened. The matter will be tried late this when a salesgirl came in and said: Reid Is here and she has brought wltu golden plates. Servants waited upon her. Summer. her her husband. And I said to the head Ease and every luxury was hers. It was. Mile, de la Plante Insisted upon filing her story before she sailed instead of wait- - saleslady: 'Martha, you wait upon them. I Indeed, like living la a fairy tale. She am tired. I am not neat I do not wish had no misgivings. Ing until she returned, so that if she should "I thought R was extraordinary," she to meet her husband. And Martha did be lost at sea her deposition would still as I told her, but presently there floated says. "But I had heard that American speak tor her. In bdr .attorneys office Mile, de la across the partition that separated the financier were peculiarly democratic. I Plante prefaced her story of her astonish- showroom from the workroom a voice. It often said to Mr. and Mrs. Reid when they heaped compliments upon me: "But I am ing experiences with this formal state- was the voice of Mrs. Reid. I listened inI only a working girl. I ' have nothing save ment: tently. It said a prolonged Oooooo! -The llrsr I knew that I had been so was silent. She again lifted her voice and my talent, my taste." They smiled and MUe. Georgette, dear, please come doubled their klndnessea. shamefully aspersed was When I read In said: Then came the greatest enchantment of the newspapers cf February 26 that Mrs. out I have brought my husband. Ms Reids servants had testified against me. wants to meet you. I frowned, but an- all. The heroine of It was arranging to In In swered: moments. few as a the Please be sail for France. Mrs. Reid had asked her I was never named divorce suit, and so, of course, I had no seated. I smoothed my hair and tried to she said, to give up her I slness and be1 notice that had any Interest In it Other compose my features, and went out." come her companion. Mile. Georgette Thus Into tbs presence of the necro- wanted to talk It over with relatives in wise, you may be sure I would have been mancers tbs maids of the Nights were Paris, and then, she says, this happened: represented in court often summoned. T am absolutely Innocent of any wrong "Mrs. Reid hurried Into my shop one "Mrs. Reid kissed no as usual and pre- morning and said: doing, and 1 want the court to give me a' 'At least, while chance to set myself right before the sented her husband. Mr. Reid was most you are making up your mind, take world." gracious. He bowed low and said: 'You charge of my household and let me go to And then going hack to the first mohave sold my wife beautiful clothes. Tell Atlantic City for a vacation. 1 have not ment that the enchanted glamour of the me, can you make Mra. Reid aa chic as you had a vacation for three years. I have .Arabian tales was cast about her. Mile. are? I was embarrassed, but I answered looked forward to It for a' long time. I fz-Hla Plante began her story; simply. That will not bo bard, Mrs, Reid.' ath' wore out with superintending the -One of my richest and most charming They staved a long time and bought many house sod with entertaining. Wont you customers had left the shop after making things. Their purchases that day amount do thla for me as friend 7 FEW e Charming Mademoiselle Georgette de la Plante the Fashionable Modiste Who Had Such dresses fitted they telephoned Mile. Georg, ette: What do you mean by ordering dresses ' r us? We won't wear em!" And while she was protesting that the uniforms sh had ordered were the correct thing they rang oft But not, she says, before she had heard an indignant m&ld say: "That Frenchwoman! Well how her!" At luncheon next day at the Reid florae Mrs. Reid sighed plaintively: "The maids say they won't wear the costumes you or- vu 19J0. IntemsUoaal Feator - , a Strange Adventure. dered." To which Cinderella quite logi- cally replied: "If you cannot make them wear the dresses, I cannot" Something, thought she, was wrong In the enchanted palace. The Incident of the bath approaches. She consented. Pending that entrance into the Reid household as its temporary mistress she talked about its details with Mrs. Reid. This conversation ensued, says Mile, de la- Plante. "Do you think my servants look right?" tusked Mrs. Reid. I to be candid, Mrs. Reid, I do not like their wearing low-cu- t gowns at their work. And the lace about their necks. No, 1 do not like it. Servants should not go about their work In decollete!" "What would you recommend?" asked the fairy godmother. "The uniform should he of black taffeta. It should be buttoned up high to meet the chin." "Then please order such costumes, ' said the fairy godmother. The new Cinderella obligingly did. Now again comes a divergence from the traditions of the Nights. If the enchanted princess or anybody else in authority had given the servants orders to put on different clothes, they would have done it without argument, or speedily have been wearing angel costumes. Times have. Indeed, changed. Amanda Gunnison, Vlrt Swanatyom and Tiilie were the maids. And Amanda, Vlv and Tlllle revolted. From the modiste's wherj, they had gone to have their new u I called for Mra. Retd the morning she' went to Atlantic City, recites Mile. Georgette. "I drove up In a cab. Her mother was with her. I went with them to the station. When we separated we kissed each other on the cheeks. Everything was well" , The Incident of the bath Is nearer. But ' now, before giving the little modistes story of it. It Is necessary to recite the version of It given by the decollete-lovinmaids. Thus spake Miss Tlllle Olsen on the stand during Mr 4. Reid's divorce suit: "About Christmas time, Inl918, Mrs. Reid got up quite early one morning to go to Atlantic city for a week or ten days. After breakfast. Mile. Georgette, who had a shop in East Fifty-sixtstreet, arrived with many boxes. They contained gowns and hats for the Atlantic City trip. She and Mr. Reid examined them, and then Mile. Georgette went to the railroad atatlon with Mra Reid. About 19 o'clock that morning the doorbell rang. I went to the door and admitted Mile. Georgette, who entered Mrs. Relda suite and aaid: Draw me a bath. I am going to take a hath."' Miss Olsen said that she refused, saying It was Mrs. Reid's bathtub and for no other woman to use. She continued: ' "Mile. Georgette was very cool about my refusal. AH the said was, Send Amanda Gunnison here. Amanda was Mrs. Reids personal maid. When Amanda , came she drew the hath and pretty soon Mils. Oeorgette say: "Amanda, bring some of Mrs. Reids underwear. g h "Amanda went to one of Mrs. Reid closets and then waited on Mile. GeorWhen Mile. Georgette left the , gette. bathroom, she went to the room opening into Mr. Reids suite. She wore a tea-gowrapper, with slippers, hut no stockings. Mr. Reid came into the room In his dressing gown and slippers." "False! cruelly false 1" is Mile. Georgette's comment on this, reciting the Incident thus: "I went back to the Reid home. I told a maid. TUlle Olson, to draw the bath water. 1 said I wanted a bath. She tossed her head and refused. That Is not my work, , she said. I told her to send me Amanda Gunnison, who Is Mrs. Reid's personal maid. Amanda did as I told her. "But there was always an attitude of coldness toward me on the part of those maids. They obeyed my orders because they bad to. 1 would not have permitted But any Impertinence or disobedience. they did not hide their antipathy. I believe that they hated to wait upon me because they considered me a working woman like themselves. They did not understand the artist in me." Always during that week, says Mils. Georgette, she sat, when at table, with Mrs. Henry J. Topping, Mrs. Reid's sister, or with Mrs. Carrier, Mrs. Reids mother. Each day, after breakfast and after luncheon, ahe would go to her shop. And when Mrs. Reid came back she was lavish In her thanks to her. she says. Amanda, Tilllo and Yivi agreed that when Mrs. Reid returned from Atlantic City she became Incensed at something she had heard and Ofdered the modiste from the house. Mile. Georgette, wrath blazing from her . eyes, denies this: I telephoned Mrs. Reid at the Traymore Hotel asking her to come home She did the next day. That was all. I went to Paris. My friends advised me to stick to I my business, as you say in America returned and resumed my business. That same season Mrs. Reid sent for me from the Hotel Vanderbilt. I took some lingerie to her end she bought It. She was very charming to me." "I want no money. I ask no damages," says Mile, de la Plahte. "I only want my name cleared!" The Supreme Court will, without doubt, give her the chance to do it. 1 -- |
