The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-12-22
THE COST OF DRESS.

Men spend more money Tor their Clothing
than VIC men do. The assertion seems strange
does it not, after all the statements tina
women in matters of dress ? Yes, but it i
true. Here are the figures, the result of thu
last census: Value of mems clothing, $780,
$500; Of women, $S2,oo4,794; spent to-
womens clothing in one year, $3I7, 100000
for mems, $49S, ooo, 200, an average expendi
ture of $4S for clothing for every man in the
United States and of ST. for every woman
Now let the complaints about woman's ex'
travagance cease. They have been dnned in
everybody's ears from time immemorial, and it
has become generally accepted theory that all
women have a fondness for display which
Subdues every other sentiment. Some have
this vice, that is undoubted, but how much
more general it must be among men than
women the figures indicate.
| AT first it doesn't seem possible that men
could spend SO much money for clothing as
women. AT the best his attire is ugly, the
style changes seldom and then but little, and
he has but a few sombre hues to choose from,
while woman has world Of colOrS and
styles ever before her. There must be some
men-of the 1'ittlebat Titmouse order-who
give all their earnings to furnishing establish
ments. There are a few, it is known, who
wear corSets and rig themselves in under
Il Of Il
To this class it has been charged that General
w. s. Hancock and President Arthur belong.
But whether Mar and Scion wear corsets or
not is question which must be left to their
respective Wallets.
The average expenditure for women's
clothes per Year has probably been kept low
by The poorer classes. The wives of laborers,
for instance, will deprive themselves Of nearly
every necessity for their children's sake and
besides nowadays one is able to purchase
for few dollars dresses which can be turned
and turned again for SO many seasons that
they begin to seem quite familiar TO every
friend of the owner, though she may be
quite skillful in their manipulation.
Another fact that enters into the matter is
that most men wear their best clothes daily
while women can effect saving by DOMINIC
their best only occasionally.
OF course the upper-class women patronize
he miliner to as great an extent as they ever
lid, and one cannot blame them. Indeed, if
he writer utter his thoughts the discovery
will be made that he is inclined to enhance
he attention which women give to dress.
Nothing in his belief is more beautiful than 4
woman who, having not only selected bui in
'ented her costume, Is at once living statue
| breathing picture, not by means of tinted !
;heeks andpencilled eyebrows, but the blending |
colors of her attre,-a persontication of har |
nony and melody as she walks and smiles
md speaks.
But, though it is unquestionably proper for
man or 4 woman to be agreeable to their
acquaintance by their dress, it is improper to
impose by extravagant pretenSioas or positive |
leciets. The ideal is not the false and what
.ver is done to beauty the person should be
lone on certain basis Of truth. /, is lie
old by the lank man when he pads himself
i'll he seemingly has the robust form of a
Icrcules, and by a thin woman when she
ncks herself out to the stately proportions Of
he Venus of Milo. Besiedes one is apt to
'verstep the bounds and appear SO ridiculous
hat he becomes forced to take his congo from
wen his friends.