The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-06-01
A Talk With q Dude.
NEW YORK REPORTER INTERVIEWS TIN
FSEAK--wHAT A DUDE Is ANYWAY
AN INTERESTING TALK.

From the New York sun.
AT high noon n youth emerged from
the Brunswick and stood for moment
in the brilliant blaze of the May sun
listlessly buttoning his glove. He was
languid, sombre and inert. Up
and down Fifth avenue stages rum.
bled and roared, and carriages whirled
The doors of the hotels slammed inces-
sanity, brightly dressed women tripped
by, men strobe briskly to and fro, laugh
ing nurse maids led groops of frolic-
some children toward the park, and
even the cabmen whistled and sang as
they went about their work. 1t was
cheerful scene.
The youth did not seem interested in
anything. Men who passed glanced at
him somewhat contcmptuously, or with
palpable sneers women looked admir-
ingly. He was narrow-chested, and
his legs were lank and wavering On
his head was bell.crowned English
beaver, with a morning band two inches
wide, and around his neck he wore a
collar of preposterous height. A drab
covert coat, such as Englshmen wear
when they so to 'meet," was buttoned
closely around his far from robust fig
ure. The garment was so short that the
end of his spike tail coat tail fell far
below it, producing wierd and worn
effect. His trousers was so tight that
the uneven contour of his legs excited
pity, and his feet were squeezed into
long and narrow shoes. Over his vest
dangled a single glass, and he wore
English dogskin gloves, the color of
ripe brick dust. He had a silver tipped
cane under his left arm and stood with
one foot far in advance of the other.
His hat was tipped back on his head,
and his hair brushed forward at the
sides, and he displayed evidence of
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.
He was dude. l.ua
Presently another youth swung around
the corner. He was counterpart of
the first, and their attire was precisely
similar, even to the brick dust gloves.
They approached each other solemnly,
and then the new-c conner drawled
"How are you, my brave boy!"
"Eh Oh, | cawnt say as I'm too
brisk, don't you know7 I'm freakish to.
day. ..hI
"You look bit queer"
"Yaas I've been in the eating
houses here trying to worry down bit
of chop with some shandygaff How
are your
''Oh, I'm fine you know | took
tub this mawning, then fooled me new
cart up the avenue, and had good ap
petoit for breakfast
''Rathah decent fun"
"Yaas" .5..rT
"See you at the club later .n
Upon which the new conner, with
face expressive of great exhaustion, am
bled away. The first youth still stood
in front of the hotel and gazed indif-
ferently about him, For long time
he stood there, while the Sun reporter
remained in the back ground regarding
him with reverential awe, and rejecting
that the dnde was the only thing in the
world that had not been interviewed. A
little time passed and then ...
Il beg your pardon" said the repor-
ter.
"Ow?" asked the youth slowly.
81 beg your pardon"
"Ah,' said the youth, and after
glancing casually at the reporter, he
continued placidly 81 don't remember
to have met you"
''No,' said the reporter thoughtfully,
while the youth gazed upon him with
immense contempt, shut l wish to ask
you a question or two about matter
of great Importance"
"Oh, you don't say rather an artful
idea, I'm sure. What do you wish to
ask about"
'The dude"
The youth started, sharply at the re-
porter for an instant, and then resumed
the air of Indifference as he said
"Well."
''There is widespread rumor down
town that cat chased dude up Fifth
avenue yesterday at sundown."
'Oh, l say!" said the youth with a
tranquil smile. sits quite too bad,
don't chew know, to put it upon the
er-aw-dude, y'know, loike that. The
dudes not hawf so bad as painted !Chas
ed by cat-haw"
"No truth in it at all q
"Whoy, I'd lad quid to a bob any
tonne that it's pure guy, said the youth
with some animation "and / tell you
what" he continued, "the-aw-dude
don't chew know, is wretchedly mis-
understood"
"What is a dude?"
ga dude, answered the youth slowly
''is gentleman. A cad can never be
dude. He must not he in trade, bu
must have money. | dare say there
are dudes who have very little money
but they have blood y'know, But thu
point of the thing is that the dude il
umph of the gentleman over the cad
You take what was once known as
swell, or fop, or dandy, and it wa
not absolutely necessary for him to b.
gentleman. The pet, particular goo
of swelldom was Beau Brummel, don
chew know, and yet he was not gen
tleman according to our English accep
taton of the term Still he snubbed tn,
Prince of Wales"
"Would he not have been quite g.
effective as dudei'
''By no means" said the youth hasti
ly. "Don't chew see? He was gor
geous and overdressed, while wee
that is, the dude--is the acme of pro
priety and good taste. He wore louc
colors, padded shoulders, corsets, wigs
snuff-box and Unlimited jewelry, while
the dude wears no jewelry other than
ring, and invariably dresses in dark anC
quiet colorsF y e. n.
SIS there any fun in being dudef
"To the vulgaw dude is not i'm
pressive. The gorgeous swell took th'
eye. The women worshipped him TO
the richness of his dress, and tn
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