The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-08-21
Professional Mems Dress.
Nev York Mail and Erpress.

There are always certain classes OF
men who have certain styles of their
own. They pay little attention to fash
ions except to modify them into the di-
rection of their own ideas. This habit
l regard as the consummate flower of
high civilization. 1t gives the individ-
ual marked character. 1t distinguishes
him from the herd. To the civilian his
garments are as much an evidence of the
calling-to one who can read the signs
as his uniform to a soldier or his liv-
cry to a footman. There are clergymen,
for instance. Who can mistake one,
even though he doesn't affect the cleri-
cal cut?'
'How are you to distinguish the doc
tor from the lawyer7'
'Only novice would ask that ques-
ton. Physicians in good practice-and
of course | have none others among my
customers-are the most particular of
men. take Madison avenue practi-
toner as an example, and he's the ideal
doctor for you. Large and stout, he
carries himself with great dignity and
immense pomp. He dresses well in fine
black diagonals, with rich black kersey
topcoat in winter. Sometimes he in
dulges in fancy cashmere vest and all
must fit him without wrinkle. In hats,
gloves and boots he is unexceptionable
and extravagant. His scarfs are the
richest and his linen and cambria the
finest.
'But lawyers-pshaw! They're the
worst dressers in the world, if they
amoun; to anything. Want something
black and take the first goods that come
to hand-never want new suit till the
old one gets disgracefully shabby. Hats
shocking! The worst tiles in this
town are partly distributed on the heads
of our most eminent lawyers. You can
hardly get them here to try on
suit, but must send it on the chance of
fitting. They'll always take it-don't
care how it looks if it goes on easily.
But, bless you, that isn't what true ar
tist wants.
Another class of men who dress
Enthusiastically are men of business.
They want dozen coats and as many
trousers and waistcoats and the like in
multitudes, after the latest fashion. Yet
your true man of fashion is no dude.
He is never pronounced and never has
on shining new clothes It's the gen.
eral effect-the elegance that only comes
with long experience of careful valet
that shows and it's what the mere
dude can never catch on to. The dude
and all the noodles who merely copy
the most extravagant fashions, while
they are our best paying customers,
don't win our admiration. It's the man
who knows his style and dresses up to
it that is the true dresser.
'Of course you can always recognize
the sporting man. He is a species with
divers classes. The racing man dresses
differently from the yachting man. The
dog fancier has salient peculiarities un
like those of the horse fancier and the
mere gambler. who looks on snorts OF
all kinds as simply opportunities for
book making, has style all his own.
They differentiate in little things-trin-
kets, linen, etc. They are all fond of
high colors and unique patterns. Their
abundant jewelry is apt to be in the form
of pugs' heads or racing insignia. They
have weakness for bell-crowned hats,
yellow-stitched gloves and pointed
shoes. Their canes remind you of the
neck and head of stork with the long
bill on top. They are knowing crowd
mostly, but about dress they are as in
nocent as babies.
CLOSELY allied to sporting men are
actors, from a tailor's point of view.
But there's wide difference essentially.
The sporting man wants to dazzle you,
the actor to impress and overcome you.
The sporting man will distribute his
magnifcence all over him; the actor
relies on some such concentrated effect
as a sealskin coat or a low-cut shirt col
lar and wide-brimmed hat. He wants
his clothes cut not to fit him, but to
drape him, and he arrays himself in at
titudes favorable to classic folds. Actors
are liberal customers when they have
money. But politicians stand high with
US. They are the fellows for new clothes.
They want everything slick and span
and brand new. They're the best tail
ors' blocks, too, and afford more pleas
ure to true artists eye than the mere
ly elegant fellow who distracts attention
from his clothes to HIMSELF