Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-28
THE DUDES MEETING.
A DRAMATIC INCIDENT THAT Oc-
CURED IN FIFTH AVENUE.

CURED IN FIFTH AVENUE.
Berry Wall, the King Of the Dudes, Meets
Mr.. Bob billiard, the Usurper, and
Wallis Attire Was Precisely Like Bob
billiards..
A dramatic incident occurred on Fifth
avenue the other day. 1t was shortly after
o'clock, and the sidewalks of the great
thoroughfare were crowded with people. The
huge throngs dr1fted along on both sides Of
the street dressed in Sunday rsiment and
staring interestedly from side to side. 1t is
the most pretentious procession that New
York kno~s
BY some curious freak Of fate two young
men of similar age and local fame swung into
Fifth avenue at precisely the same moment
and walked slowly toward each other. One
turned the corner of Twenty-sixth street and
started northward, and the other turned the
corner of Twenty seventh street and faced
the south. Heads were turned in all direc-
lions, and the names Of the two young men
were whispered along the street. Each was
slim Of build, handsome of face and notice
ably correct in the matter Of attire Mr..
Berry Wall wore dark, heavily ribbed
black frock coat, gray trousers, a beaver hat
with two inch band, lavender gloves, white
overgaiters, very high and straight collar,
dark scarf and the biggest white rose that
has been seen on Fifth avenue this season.
He strolled along seemingly unconscious of
| the attention he excited, leaning heavily on
his stick and staring straight in front Of him
with raised eyebrows and an expression Of
acute sorrow.
A DUPLICATE COSTUME.
Mr.. Bob billiards costume was an ebso-
Lutte duplicate of Mr. Wallis, even to tho
shade of the trousers, the white overgeitcrs
and the massive rose Even the material of
the billiard frock coat was precisely similar
to that Of the Wall frock coat. The crowd
parted right and left as tho ex-king Of the
dudes and the reigning monarch strolled I'M
consciously toward ono another. billiards
proportions were athletic and powerful;
Wallis were dissipated and elegant. One
looked like man of fashion, the other like q
man of the world. Hilliard was by far the
handsomer but Wall bore that indescribably
attractive stamp which distinguished the
man of fashion above his fellows. There was
! swirl in the crowd, which left an open
: space directly in front of the Victoria hotel
: Suddenly the two idols of the town caught
sight of each other. 1t was q thrilling mo-
ment, for it was the first meeting Of the de-
posed and the successful monarch. It was a
test which both men felt from their heels up,
but which they survived with serenity and
breeding which has won them their title
Mr. Wallis face grew shade whittier, but the
expression did not change an iota Hilliard
flushed, but retained his expression Of i'm
placable serenity Neither man changed his
pace and they strolled along within a foot
or two of each other, and then Mr.. Hilliard
smiled very slightly, nodded and said cas-
ually:
''Good mawning"
"How--do," said Mr. Wall serenely, with
Just the suggestion OF smile, and gentle
beaming of the eyes.
Mr. Hilliard touched two fingers Of his
gloved hand to the rim of his hat Mr.. Wall
touched his hat with his right forefinger only.
This is another innovation of Mr. billiards.,
he holding, with some show of argument,
that, as porters, policemen and sailors touch
their hat with one finger, gentlemen should
make slight but not pointed difference by
raising two fingers. He, Of course, depre-
Gates the fashion Of one man raising his hat
on meeting another, unless lady be present,
such action being fulsome, ostentatious and
vulgar.
TREMENDOUSLY SHOCKED.
As the two distinguished men walked apart
after their meeting, it was evident that they
were perturbed Neither of them looked
back, of course, but there was a nervous ac-
celeration Of speed as they swept out of sight
around the corner. There was no ques-
ton that both men had been tremendously
shocked by the discovery that they were
dressed in a fashion that was pre-
cisely similar Though they knew the rumor
that flew up and down Fifth avenue to the
effect that they patronized the same tailor
was false, yet they were nervous and i'll at
ease over the lack Of originality they had
both shown. No one knew exactly where
! Mr.. Wall went, but it is certain that he
showed up in an incredibly short time in at
tire that was notably and pointedly out Of
the ordinary run. 1t was not the material so
much as it was the cut A Partisan tailor
was responsible for the oddity in outline Of
the garments. The coat was very long tailed,
four button and cutaway, the trousers roomy
and ironed SO that the creases stuck out like
whip CORDS The waistcoat was exceedingly
low at the neck, giving view of the heavily
ribbed shirt and ribbed cravat Of precisely
the same material The points of the collar
were turned very far forward The boots
were patent leather, with deliberately trimmed
/ uppers, and the gloves very light in shade, as,
| indeed, was the suit the color of which, by
/ the way, was very dark brown with subdued
/ stripes of maroon.
! Mr.. billiard was seen to jump into cab
when he arrived at Broadway after his abb
rupt departure from Fifth avenue, and rolled
hastily up town Less than half an hour
later he bounded out on Fifth avenue again
and started briskly toward the park. An
extraordinary metamorphosis had taken
place Shorn of his beaver hat and the dig
nifty which frock coat imparts, he looks
like ruddy faced boy. He was topped By a
low crowned, fawn colored derby hat, which
was matched to perfection by fawn colored
gloves He wore white linen, relieved at the
neck by scarlet tie while a purple satin
waistcoat, embroidered with green stars,
could be seen through the opening of the
neglige sack coat The trousers were rough
tweed and the CATERS Of the same material
A cambria handkerchief, with scarlet trac-
ing to match the cravat, peeped from the
pocket of Mr.. billiards coat, and he carried a
silver tipped stick. For half an hour hs
st7olled in Fifth avenue, and so did Berry
Wall But fate had turned against them,
| and they did not meet again--New York
Sun
governor, do you anticipate that the aka
line desert between Ogden and the Sierre Ne
vadas can ever be made available for agri-
culture or anything else!' asked of ex-Sea-