The sun., 1888-05-13
Tailors in Convention.

The second annual Convention Of the
Merchant Tailors' National Exchange was
held at Cincinnati in the latter part Of Janu-
ary. and tho May number Of the American
Fashion Reuieo, an organ Of the trade, brings
us full report Of the proceedings.
The merchant tailors fmany OF tho larger
towns had beon already organized in local
Exchanges, but it was not until last year
that they were brought together in this
body, which was established at Philadel-
phia with "a shout Of Joy that went up
from three-score joyful hearts," Its purpose
is to harmonic the interests OF the tailors of
the United States, and it differs from other
Exchanges, to use the language Of one Of
the speakers at Cincinnati, in that 1t is "un-
selfish" 1--WE do not assemble" he said,
"to exchange gold, silver, or merchandise" )"
but TO compare the experiences of life
time, the result Of many an anxious hour Of
brain work that all the gold in tho universe
could not purchase, and cheerfully lay 1t on
the altar of this, our National Exchange, for
the benefit of the humblest and poorest man
in our profession, without money and with
out price"
All of the speakers thus glorifed their art
as one of the choicest fruits Of high civil
ization, and 1t was made manifest that its
celebration as such and the cultivation Of
professional pride among taiors constituted
chief object Of the association. Therefore
the ancient prejudice against tailors was de-
nounced as narrow and vulgar, and they
were described as craftsmen pursuing a
business requiring for its success at once ar
tistio training, cultivated taste. and a
high order of skilled labor" But we regret
to see that one Of these eloquent tailors him
self exhibited the bigotry OF which he COM
planned In others. by resenting any oompari-
son between them and 80 many Dress
makers" Now. the construction of gown
for woman Is an art fully as beautiful as
the fashioning Of a garment for man nay,
1t Is more beautiful for 1t affords greater op-
portunitiss for the exercise of taste in the
combination OF materials. colors and forms.
The tailor ought rather to look upon the
dressmaker as a fellow worker in the field of
aesthetic labor and more fortunate than he, In
having wider range and lovelier line of
subjects for the display OF artistic perception.
The dressmaker. too has another great
advantage over the tailor. and it is one to
which the speakers at this Convention fre-
Qututly ItltIItu. 1uo ldlHOuS QIeSSlnHR6r6
OF Paris are arbiters of fashions for women.
To them the changes that take place In those
fashions from year to year are due. But
the tailor chafes under restraints that con-
fine him to an almost unvarying round
Of conventional materials and FORMS 1t has
long been the mbition o. tailors of artistic
eminence to modify the evening dress for
men so that it should be more attractive to
the eye. by the addition Of colors, the intro
duction of knee breeches, or some new va
riety in general form, but they have failed
utterly in their attempts. Men will not obey
the dictates of tailors as women follow the
commands OF dressmakers.
There was proposition before the Convon-
ton "to issue mandates as to what II the
proper style Of dress to bo worn ON osrtsin
occasions. when dreas saat should b worn.