Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-05-03
NUMBER 36.
Talk with a Dude.

lank and wayering. On his head was
a bell-crowned English beaver, with a
mourning band two inches wide, and
around his neck he wore a collar of
preposterous height. A drab covert
coat such as Englishmen wear when
riding to a "meet," was buttoned
closely about his far from robust figure
The garment was 50 short that the
ends Of his spike-tailed coat fell far be-
low it, producing weird and eerie
effect. His trousers were sotight that
the uneven contour of his legs inspired
pity, and his feet were squeezed into
long and narrow shoes. Over his breast
dangled a single glass, and he wore
English dogskin gloves, the color Of
ripe brick dust. He held a silver
tipped cane under his arm and stood
with one foot far in advance of the
other. His hat was tipped back on his
head, his hair brushed forward at the
sides, and he displayed evidences Of a
vapid mustache. But the most notice.
able thing about him was the express
sion of his face. He meant to appear
naughty. Instead he looked insolent.
81 beg your pardon" said the re-
porter.
"Ow?" asked the youth slowly.
II beg your pardon"
"Oh," said the youth, and after
glancing casually at the reporter he
continued pIacidly, Il don't remem-
Der to have met you"
"No," saidthereporter thoughtfully'
while the youth gazed upon him with
immense contempt, "but 1 wish to ask
you a question or two about matter
IF great importance"
"Oh, you don't sayl Rather an
artful idea, I'm sure. What did you
wish to ask about?"
"The dude"
The youth started, glanced sharply at
he reporter for an instant, and then
resumed the air of indifference as he
aid, "Wen?"
"There is widespread rumor
downtown that a cat chased dude
up Fifth avenue yesterday at sun
down.
"Oh, 1 say r said the youth with
tranquil smile. ITS quite too bad,
lon't chew know, to putt upon the
er-aw-dude, y'know, loike that. The
lude's not hawf as bad as painted !
Chased by cat-Haw r
"No truth in it at all?'
"Whoy, I'd lay quid to bob any
tonne that it's pure guy" said the
youth, with some animation; "and I'll
tell you what" he continued, the
aw-dude, don't chew know, is
wretchedly misunderstood"
"What is dude?"
"a dude answered the youth
slowly, sis a gentleman. a cad can
never be a dude. He must not be in
trade. but must have money. I dare
say there are dudes who have very
little money, but then they have blood,
ty'know. But the point of the thing is
that the dude is the embodiment-er--
of the-ah-triumph of the gentleman
over the cad. You take what was
once known as swell, or fop, Or a
dandy, and it was never absolutely
necessary for him to be gentleman
The pet, particular god Of swelldom
was Beau Brummel, don't chew know,
and yet he was not a gentleman &C.
cording to our English acceptation of
the term. Still, he snubbed the Prince
of Wales"
"Would he not have been quite as
effective as dude?'
"By no MEANS" said the youth
hastily. "Don't chew see? He was
gorgeous and overdressed, while We
er-that is, the dude-is the acme Of
propriety and good taste He wore
loud colors, padded shoulders. corsets,
wigs. snuff box and unlimited jewelry,
while the dude wears no jewelry other
than a ring, and invariably dresses in
dark and quiet colors."
"Is there any fun in being dude?@
ITO the vulgaw dude is not i'm
pressive. The gorgeous swell took the
eve. The women worshiped him for
the richness Of his dress and the
waitahs in eating-houses were over
powered but the dude is essentially
negative. He is not a spectacle he
is a quiet, self contained gentleman.
He is refined, and he is distinguished
from common people by his manners.
In England we have landed aristoc-
racy; 10 America the aristocrats are
popularly known as dudes. y'know.
A fellah dressed properly and walking
quietly on the Strand or in Pell Nell
IS known simply as an English gentle
man; but when he appears in the
same attire on Fifth av'noo lie at once
becomes a dude"
"May 1 ask how long you have been
away from England p
"I-aw-can't say the fact is. ]
have nevah been in England"
sAhl good day" accenting tbs
@goed."
GOOD doy," accenting the doy-