The Brookhaven leader., 1883-05-10

arm, and stood with one foot far in adj
vance of the other. His hat was tipped
back on his head, his hair brushed for
ward at the sides, and he displayed evil
dences of vapid mustache. But the
most noticeable thing about him was
the expression of his face. He meant
to appear naughty. Instead he looked
insolent.
He was a 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 solemly,
and then the newcomer drawled:
How are you, my brave boyp"
"Eh? 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 a
chop with some some shandygaff. How
are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine, you know. l took a
tub this mawning, then fooled me new
cart up the avenue, and had good ap
petoit for breakfast.
"Rathah decent fun"
"Yaas."
"See you at the club later"
Upon which the newcomer, 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 Sun re-
porter remained in the background re-
garding 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
Il beg your pardon" said the re-
"Ow?" asked the youth, slowly.
81 beg your pardon"
"Oh,H said the youth, and after CLAN
tinued placidly: Il don't remember to
have met you"
"No," said the reporter, thoughtfully,
while the youth gazed upon him with
immense contempt, 'but l wish to ask
yon question or two about matter of
great Importance.
"Oh, you don't say! Rather an art
full idea, 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 widespread rumor down
town that a cat chased dude up Fifth
avenue yesterday at sundown."
''Oh, say" said the youth, with a
tranquil smile, Its 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!'
mo truth in it at ALP"
'Whoy, I'd lay quid to a bob any
tonne that it's pure guy" said the
youth, with some animation; land I'll
tell you what" he continued, 'the-
aw-dude, don't chew know, is wretch
edly misunderstood.
"What is a dudeP"
"a dude" answered the youth,
slowly, lis a gentleman. A cad can
never be dude. He must not be in
trade, but must have 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 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 gentleman according to our
English acceptation of the term. Still,
he snubbed the Prince of Wales"
Would he not have been quite as
effective as dudeP"
"By no MEANS" said the youth,
hastily. Don't chew seep He was
gorgeous and over-dressed, 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 other than ring,
and invariably dresses in dark andquiet
colors."
"Is there any fun in being dude?"
ITO the vulgaw dude is not i'm
AhO OiSoSONs' o"SAt oOON eiiO
eye. The women worshipped him for
the richness of his dress and the waitahs
in eating houses were overpowered;
but the dude is essentially negative.
He is not a spectacle; he is quiet, self
contained gentleman. He is refined,
and he is distinguished from common
people by his manners. In England
we have landed aristocracy; in
America the aristocarts are popular
ly 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
men; but when he appears in the same
attire on Fifth av'noo he at once be-
comes dude"
MAY ask how long you have been
away from England?"
"f-aw-cawn't say; the fact is I
have nevah been in England"
"Ah! good day." accenting the
''good."
"Good doy," accenting the "doy. -
N. Y. Sun.
As to the Postal Card.