The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-07-28
THE ST0VE-PIPE HAT.
ttltT5 FROM A DISCUSSION IN A
LEADING SCOTCH PAPER.

'tow Victory May Perch Upon Tall
silk Hat 80 Testimony of Three Wit.
ne.srs Value of the Stoye-Pipe in FRO.
noting Morality.
During the past few weeks the columns of
the leading paper in Glasgow have been
opened to correspondents who desired TO
present arguments for and against tbe wear.
Ing of the tall silk hat. To nudge from the
number Of letters that have been published
on the subject, one would suppose that hun
'ueds oil people had devoted the best part of
taelr ives cons ,ering the merits of the pro
per covering OF the heals OF men, and that
nearly ali OF them hal come to the conclu.
sion, alter diiigent stu-jy, observation, and
reflection, that the tall silk hat possessed ad-
NahtaSes over every .vgm of headgear that
mad been Worn in ancient or modern times.
commercial Traveller states that when
be first took to the road he wore a suit of
light tweed cloth and a soft SLOUGH hat
These he thought would be very comfort
able, well suited for travelling, and sutii-
GENTLY dressy for person engaged in his
occupation. His trip was not successful.
though he abstained from all the vices com
mon to 'drummers' and attended strictly
TO business The few bills of goods he sold
were to small dealers of somewhat doubtful
commercial standing. He was 50 dis
Outraged 10y his failure to secure
trade that he was thinking OF giving
up the business when an English cou,-
mercial traveler suggested to hiiu that his
dress Was not in his favor He recon-
mended him to discard his tweed sack and
low SLOUGH hat, and 10 wear in their place "a
black frock- coat and shiny stove pipe, and
to try his luck again" lie followed the
advice, and succeeded far beyond his first
anticipations. He was welcomed at places
where he was not received before, aHd gen
orally made large sales
THE VALUE OF GOOD CLOTHES
This statement is followed by one from a
prosperous city merchant He writes that
lie entered the house of which he is now
the manager and senior partner as an Office
boy lie at once resolved to work himself
ny to the highest round, if that could be
accomplished by study, care, industry, and
the exercise of all the ability he possessed
His progress was slow at first, but he at
tributed this to the fact that he was young.
When he became man lie dressed plainly.
ordinarily in tweed clothes and low hat. SO
rs to save all he could of his salary. lie
made himself useful to the house and was
more than once assured that his services
were duly appreciated. Still nothing was
sad 70 HIM about taking him into the firm
or giving him an interest i'll the business
Becoming discouraged at his prospect of
advance ment, he concluded that ho might
as well spend more of his salary in dress
and in making a better appearance, He
&C ordinGiy appeared at his place of bust
ness one Monday morning in black broad
cloth suit, while tall silk hat was on his
bead. He entered on his duties as usual
AMI no remarks were made about his
change OF dress, but more customers ad
dressed him than was customary, and be.
fore the week ended he was invited to be-
come member OF the firm
German commercial gentleman tenn
porarliy residing in Glasgow adds his testi
Inony IL favor Of the tall hat. lie states
that merchants from London and Paris
are letter received in Berlin than are those
from Glasgow and Edinburgh, and he is in.
cilned to think that the preference to them
is due to tho tall hats they wear as the
soft hats worn by the ocutchnlen present n
very cheap appearance.
The testimony Of these three men appears
to he sufficient to establish the value of the
tall hat in the world of trade and com
nerce- Its value in promoting respectable
ity and morality is declared by many pef-
sons.