that sprang
from her own fruitful brain. The 'Fashion Club,' a wheel within a wheel,
was merely the goose-club; strictly a goose-club, for the licensed
victualler addresses himself to the male of the species. The larger net,
cast for those who lacked money or a spirit of speculation, caught all
who, in the realm of grocery, are lured by the teapot. Every sovereign
spent with the Association carried a bonus, paid not in cash but in
kind. These startling advantages were made known through the medium
of hand-bills, leaflets, nicely printed little pamphlets, gorgeously
designed placards; the publicity department, being in the hands of Mr.
Luckworth Crewe, of Farringdon Street, was most ably and vigorously
conducted.

Thanks also to Luckworth Crewe, Beatrice had allied herself with
partners, who brought to the affair capital, experience, and activity.
Before Christmas--an important point--the scene of operations was ready:
a handsome shop, with the new and attractive appendages (so-called
'club-room,' refreshment-bar, &c.) which Crewe and Beatrice had visioned
in their prophetic minds. Before the close of the year substantial
business had been done, and 1888 opened with exhilarating prospects.

The ineptitude of uneducated English women in all that relates to their
attire is a fact that it boots not to enlarge upon. Beatrice French
could not be regarded as an exception; for though she recognised
monstrosities, she very reasonably distrusted her own taste in the
choice of a garment. For her sisters, monstrosities had a distinct
charm, and to this class of women belonged all customers of the
Association who pretended to think for themselves as to wherewithal they
should be clothed. But women in general came to the shop with confessed
blankness of mind; beyond the desire to buy something that was modish,
and to pay for it in a minus quantity, they knew, felt, thought nothing
whatever. Green or violet, cerulean or magenta, all was one to them.
In the matter of shape they sought merely a confident assurance from
articulate man or woman--themselves being somewhat less articulate than
jay or jackdaw--that this or that was 'the feature of the season.' They
could not distinguish between a becoming garment and one that called for
the consuming fires of Heaven. It is often assumed as a commonplace that
women, whatever else they cannot do, may be trusted to make up their
minds about habiliments. Nothing more false, as Beatrice French