The Portland daily press., 1881-11-18
THE, PRESS.
[Harper's Bazar.l
Mr.. Toots'S Buttons.


His distinguished biographer records of P.
Toots. Esq, that when he arrived at DIR. Blim-
ber's party, one blaze of jewelry and buttons,
che appeared to be involved in good deal of
uncertainty whether, on the whole it was ju-
dicious to button the bottom button of his
waistcoat, and whether, on a calm revision of
all the circumstances, it was best to wear his
wristbands turned up or down. Observing
that Mr.. Feeders were turned up, Mr.. Toots
turned his up; but the wristbands of the next
arrival being turned down, Mr.. Toots turned
his down. The differences in point of waist
coat-buttoning, not only at the bottom but at
the top too became so numerous and compli,
Gated as the arrivals thickened, that Mr. Tools
was continually lingering that article of dress
as If he were performing on some instrument,
and appeared to find the incessant execution
Il demanded quite bewildering."
The P Tootses of society," both male and
female, are legion. They cannot decide for
themselves the thousand tri6ing questions of
the hour. They are at the mercy of the last
newcomer who has a positive opinion. II
fashion is tyrant, it is only because her fol-
lowers are slaves If absurd customs prevail,
why do not the folk who with bated breath
deplore them refuse to conform to them?
The quality of social equilibrium the French
down Of plumb line. The man who has it
would be undisturbed though his were the
only uncovered hands in crowded drawing
room, had he decided that the occasion did
not demand gloves Indeed, the story is yet
told of well-known wit, that, finding himself
one evening in very small minority of the
uneloved he moved about among the other
guests saying, "Ah, by-the-bye my friend
Lord Loffoden, who went with me to Mrs Leo
Hunters reception last night, expressed his
establishment at seeing SO many men in kids
Me deah fela,' said he, I'm afraid I'm not at
all presentable. In London, you know, we
don't wear 'em. His Royal Highness WON'T
you know / assured him that fashionable
New York was the very shs dow of London in
that, as in most things, which persuaded him
to remain. But where so many Rip Van
Wrinkles in gloves came from don't know
And, by Jovei here they are in force too.
Beg pardon, my dear fellow. Didn't notice
you wore them. Let everybody do exactly as
he prefers, say /"
In an hour not masculine hand was COW
cred. The spotless gloves had withered away
as it were, like autumn flowers, before the
frost of royal disapproval. The one man who
had the courage of his opinions" ruled the
threeseore who bad not. They wished to be
in the fashion. But who makes the fashion?
The independent spirits who do not conform.
These amiable Tootses, wishing only to
please, really do mischief. For slavish adj
herence to custom offers the regency of society
TO narrow minded positiveness. Conformity is
always intolerant of dissent. Some years ago
an eminent and able American, when a cand-
date for high office, was considered by the
average citizen TO have seriously impaired his
chance of election by wearing his hair without
a visible parting. And our greatest poet has
often fallen under like condemnation, his sen
tence reading, "You can't have any respect
you know, for man who parts his hair in the
middle"
But why should not man part his hair in
the middle If it likes him? The time was, and
not so long ago, when every man did it, and
wore it floating over his shoulders also. Our
great-g- andfathers, who are commonly thought
to have been men of parts, strained it straight
back from their foreheads, a la CHinois and
braided it in a powdered queue behind; and
very becoming it was to some of them. 1t
pleases this generation to crop it cloee and part
il on the side; but no law OF morals or policy
enforceS this fashion, and If any man have the
wit to see and the courage to show that some
other disposal of his locks suits his face BETTER
he deserves encouragement not apprehension.
"Sacques are not worm says the bulletin Of
fashion, or jackets or shawls, or striped mater
rails, or plaids, or plain goods, or whatever
may happen to be second favorite in the
race for novelty. Then all the Mrs Tootses
are fearful, for behold! they possess this late
beloved relic, unworn, untarnshed and not to
be discarded with consent of conscience But
if they would bethink themselves, it is they who
are in the majority mot the few women who set
a new fashion every week; and if they will
wear their last seasons garment with serene
confidence, that will become at once the style
GENERALLY worn"
Indeed, it is only to the cowardly that FASH
ion in these days shows herself despot. The
man or woman who insists on freedom in nom
essentials hardly earns that brevet title of
Eccentric which used to be the reward of
independence. 1t is the sign of an increasing
civilization. For culture insists not only on the
liberation ofdifferences, but on their encourage
ment. And we may be certain that If the dis
position of our neighbours waistcoat buttons
has power to disquiet us, We are, individually,
not much more mature than the vacillating
Toots.