The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-16
A Talk with A Dude,

AT high noon "A youth emerged from
the Brunswick and stood for a moment
/ in the brilliant blaze of the April sun
lIstlessly buttoning his gloves He was
languid, sombre and inert
He was narrow-chested, and his legs
were lank and wavering. On his head
was bell-crowned English beaver, with
a mourning band two inches wide, and
| around his neck hewore a collar of pre-
posterous hight. A drab covert coat,
such as Englishmen wear when riding
to a meet, was buttoned closely about
| his far from robust figure. The gar
ment was so short that the ends of his
| spike-tailed coat fell far below it, pro-
ducing a weird 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 mar
row shoes. Over his breast dangled a
single glass and he wore English dogskin
gloves, the color of ripe brick dust He
held 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 forwar
at the sides, and he displayed evil
dences OF a vapid mustache. But the
most noticeable thing about him was
the expression of his face. He meant to
appear naughty. Instead he looked in
solent.
He was dude.
Presently another youth swung
around the corner. He was the counter
part of the first, and their attire was
precisely similar. even to the brick dust
gloves They approached each other
solemnly and then the newcomer drawl-
ed:
How are you, my brave boy?''
''Ehe Oh, | cawn't say as I'm too
brisk, don't chew know? I'm freakish
to-doy"
You look bit queer
''Yaas I've been in the eating house
here trying to worry down bit of
chop with some shandygoff How are
you?'
''Oh, I'm fine you know | took a
tub this Tnawning, then fooled me new
cart up the avenue, and had IL good APP
petoit for breakfast.
.'Rathah decent fun
"Yaas
.'See you at the club later
Upon which the newcomer, with a
face expressive of great exhaustion, am
bled away. The first youth still stood
In front of the hotel and gazed indiffer-
emily about him For long time he
Stooo tHClCs WIiiG tHaG IeI1OTtcE remain
ed in the background 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 report
err.
'Ow?' asked the youth slowly.
Il beg your pardon.
.'Oh, ''.said the youth and after glanc- |
ing casually at the reporter he continued
placidlv, Il don't remember to have |
met YOU
NO said the reporter thoughtfully |
while the youth gazed upon him with |
immense contempt, ''but I wish to ask |
you question or two about matter of |
great Importance.
.-Oh. you don't say! Rather an artful |
idea, I'm sure. What did you wish to |
ask aboutPn
1.-The dude
The youth started. glanced sharply at
the reporter for an instant, and then re-
,umed the air of indifference as he said. |
'.Welli'
There was widespread rumor down
own that a cat chased DUDE up Fifth
avenue Yesterday at shutdown"
..Oh, | say, said the youth with q /
"a sh1hAA ~ . HAAtC wv Osta 0OfA
chew know. TO put it upon the-er-aw
dude, v know. loike that. The dudes
lot hawf as bsd as painted! Chased by
! cat -Hawi"
mo truth in il at ALP
..Nhoy. Id lay quid to bob any
Dime that it,s pure guy, said the
Touth, with some animation; land I'll
ell YOU what. he continued, ..the-aw
dude. dat chew know. is wretchedly
What is dade?''
"A dude answered the youth, slow
y. is gentleman. A cad can never
70 dude He must not be in trade.
'ut must have money. Tdare say there
re dudes who have very little money,
nut then they have blood, y'know. But
he point OF the thing is that the dude is
he mbodiment-er-of the-Ah-tri-
Imph of the gentlemen over the cad
lou take what was once known as q