The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-07-13
A Talk /. with a puds.

were 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 u collar OF pre-
posterous hight. A drab covert coat.
such rs Englishmen wear when riding
to '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 a siiver-tipp FL 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 evil
denceS of Il 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?"
"Ehp Oh, | cawn't say rs 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 a
chop with some shandygoff. How are
you?"
''Oi. I'm fine you know. l took a
tub this mawning, then fooled me new
cart up the avenue, and had II 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. Ike first youth still stood
in front of the MOTEL and gazed indiffer-
emily about him. For long time he
stood there, while the reporter 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
II beg your pardon" said the report
er.
"Owp" asked the youth slowly.
81 beg your pardon"
"Oh," said the youth and after glanc-
ing casually at the reporter he continued
placidly, II don't remember to have
met YOU"
NO" said the reporter thoughtfully
while the youth gazed upon him with
immense contempt, "but 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 about?"
1.-The dude"
The youth started, glanced sharply at
the reporter for an instant, and then re-
sumed the air Of indifference as he said,
"Wellr
"There was widespread rumor down
town that cat chased dude up Fifth
avenue yesterday at shutdown"
"Oh, say" said the youth with q
tranquil 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
q cat-Hawr"
mo 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; land I'll
tell you what he continued, 'the-;iw
dude, don't chow know, is wretchedly
misunderstood
"What is dude?'
"a dnde " answered the youth. slow.
Iy, sis a gentleman. A cad can never
be dude. He must not be in trade
but must have money. Idare 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 mbodiment-er-of the-ah-tri.
umph Of the gentlemen over the cad
You take what was once known as a
swell, or fop. or 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
gentleman, according to our English ac-
ceptation of the term. Still, he snubbed
the Prince of Wales"
'Would he not have been quite effcc-
tive as dude?'
''By no MEANS" said the youth hast
fly. Don't chew see? H. was gorgeous
and overdressed, while we-er-that
is, the dudc--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 invariably dresses in dark and quiet
colors."
lis there any fun in being dude?"
ITO the vulgaw u dude is not impress
sive. The gorgeous swell took the eye.
The women worshipped him for the
richness of his dress and the waitahs in
eatng-houses were overpowered but
the dude is essentially negative. He is
not spectacle; he is quiet, self-con-
tanned gentleman. He Is refined, and
he is distinguished from common peo-