Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-20

was bell-crowned English beaver, with
mourning band two inches wide. and
around his neck he wore a collar of pre-
pOsterous height. A drab covert coat.
such as Englishmen wear when riding 10
a meet" was buttoned closely about his
lar from robust figure. The garment was
so short that the ends of his sDike.tailed
coat fell far below it, producing a Wierd
and eerie effect. His trousers were so
tight that the uneven contour of his legs
inspired pity, and his feet were squeezed
into long and narrow shoes. over his
breast dangled single glass. and he wore
English dogskin gloves, the color of ripe
DTlck aust. lie held a silyer-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 ut the sides, and he DISPLAYED
evidences OF vapid moustache. But the
most noticeable thing about him was the
expression of his face. He meant to ap-
pear naughty. Instead he looked insolent
He was dude.
presently another youth swung around
the corner. He was the counterpart Of
the first and their attire was precisely
similar, even to the brick-dust gloves
They approached each other solemnly. and
then the newcomer drawled:
How are you, my brave boy -
En-. On, caWn't say as | am too
brisk, don't chew now? I'm freakish to-
doy."
''YOu look bitqueer."
~ aas. Fve been in the eating house
mere trying to worry down a bit of a chop
with some shandygaff. How are you?''
ION, I'm fine you know. l took a tub
this mawning, then fooled me new cart up
the avenue, and had a good appeteit for
"Rathah decent fun,
.'Yaas."
''See you at the club later
bpOn which the new conner, with a face
expressive of great exhaustion, ambled
away. The first youth still stood in front
OF the hotel and gazed indifferently about
him. For long time he stood there. while
the SIN reporter remained in the back
ground regarding him with reverential
awe, and rejecting that the dude was the
only thing in all the world that had not
been interviewed. A little time passed
and then
Il beg your PARDON said the reporter.
OWF' asked the youth slowly.
Il beg your pardon"
''Oh,p said the youth, and after glanc-
ing casually at the reporter he continued
placIdly, 81 don't remember to have met
YOU"
NO" said the reporter thoughtfullv.
While the youth gazed upon him with i'm
mense contempt, "but | wish to ask YOU
a question or two about matter of great
impOrtance.S
''Oh, you don't say! Rather an artful
ldea, I'm sure. What did you wish to ask
abOut:"
''The dude"
The youth started, glanced sharply at
the reporter for an instant,and then re-
sumed the air Of Indifference as he said:
''Well?"
There is a widespread rumor down
hot al,n i.
avenue yesterday at sundown.;
'Oh, | sayv said the youth with tran
gull smile. cts quite too bad, don't chew
know, to put it upon the-er-aW-dude.
y'knOw, lOike that. The dudes not haWf
as bad as painted! Chased by cat
Haw!"
"NO truth in it at all?"
'Whoy, I'd lay quid to a bob any
tonne that its 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 misun-
derstOOd."
"What is a dude?''
"A dude" answered the youth, slowly.
sis gentleman. A cad can never be a
dude. he must not be in trade, but must
nave money. | dare say there are dudes
who have very little money, but then
they have blood, y'knOw. But the point
Of the thing is that the dude is the en-
bOdlment-er-Of-th all triumph of
the gentleman over the cad. You take
what was once known as a swell. or a fOp.
or dandy, and it was never absolutely
necessary for him to be a gentleman. The
pet, particular god of swelldOm was Beau
Brummel, don't chew know, and vet he
was not gentleman according to- our
English acceptation of the term. Still he
Snubbed the Prince of w aleS"
would he not have been quite as eff
tective 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 ring, and inVaria-
bly, dresses in dark and quiet colors."
us there any fun in being a dudeY'
ITO the vulgaw dude is not impress
sive. The gorgeous swell took the eve.
The women wOrshiped him for the rich
ness of his dress, and the waitahs in eat
ing houses were OverpOwered; but the
dude is essentially negative. He is not a
spectacle; he is Il quiet, self-cOntained
gentleman. He is refined, and he is dis
tinguished from common people by his
manners. In England we have a landed
aristOcracy; in America the aristocrats
are popularity 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 gentleman;
but when he appears in the same attire
on Fifth av'nOO he at once becomes Il
dude"
MAY l ask how long you have been
away from England?'
'I-aw-cawn't say; the fact is, | have
nevah been in England"
''Ah! good day." accenting the good"