Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-02
IN ENGLISH DUDEDOM.
AN AMERICAN PICKS UP POINTS ON
MEMS DRESS IN LONDON.

What Must Not BE Worn 10 One Would
BE Thought Much Of-The Hand Me
Down" Crease In Trousers-Actors Not
In 1.-THE Shabby GenteeI.
The other morning as | was walking down
Piccadilly, q heavy shower Of rain came down
and retreated into the entrance OF the Bur
lngton Arcade, the nearest and most agree
able place Of refuge. Among two or three
others who had also sought shelter was an
English clubman whom | knew He was a
typical London man-about-town of the dissi-
pated kind The rain continued and we stood
for some time talking about things over here
Most of the men who passed by us were
well dressed. One, for instance, wore a fair
~ well fitting black diagonal cutaway coat,
gray trousers and tall hat. I should have
said that he was less well dressed member
OF the same class as my companion. But the
latter remarked:
That mans butler; his clothes look all
right, you know, but he wears a fat made up
scarf of a bad pattern, thick soled boots and
he hasn't pair of gloves OF a stick or UNI
orella. That is enough to show what he is"
JUDGING MAN BY HIS CLOTHES
Can you tell me what a man ought not to
wear if he wishes to be considered a gentle
man in LondonP' asked the dissipated one
well" he said, 81 am not in the habit OF
enlarging upon dress, but, as yon are an
American, I'll tell You something about what
you mention. man of acknowledged po-
sition may wear almost anything, but it is
very difficult to say what a man should not
wear who wishes to be conspicuous by his
good taste in dress, although 1t is easy to say
L.. L..
of all a mans clothing should be neat, prop
erly brushed and his coat buttoned up
Never walk along the street with your coat
open, however hot the weather may be or
thick the material of the coat Wear gloves
on both hands properly buttoned. Don't
carry them in your hand 1t is allowable to
wear your hat on one side of your head or
over your eyes, but don't tilt it backwards.
Let the creases in front and at the back of
your trousers always be distinct.
Never for any reason or under any cir
cumstances walk about the West End of Lon
don with anything but a silk hat on your
head. And in the name Of heaven don't wear a
frock coat and low hat as some Of your coun-
trymen do. That is an atrocity. You may
see actors walking about here in brown hats
and check suits, but don't think they know
how to dress. The ordinary run of actors are
thoroughly desplsed by the best class of Eng
lishmen, although the middle classes think 50
much of their dress and appearance. Avoid
looking like an actor II you wish TO be con-
sidered a gentleman here.
The colors in your clothes should be har-
mOnious, but not necessarily quiet Neck
wear is Of very great Importance in dress.
Never let your cravat be small fat, incon-
spicuous or too quiet. Scarfs now should
never he stiffed with cardboard and ready
made up Always tie them yourself WHISTLER
in n cravat, a knot or bow Loudness in
the pattern may he excused If 1t is fantastic
DO not wear straight all round collars un-
less you can take them very high indeed, like
Prince Albert Victor, Lord Cairns and one
or two other persons OF eninence A man
| should have his own particular kind of collar
il possible, but should not wear such absurd.
| ities as collars with square shaped piece:
turned down in front. There are a hundred
small but distinct differences in collars
| Prince Albert Victor wears the tallest and
shiniest collars of anybody have met"
LAYING IN A SUPPLY.
Then he suggested that l should stroll
round with him to his tailors in Savill,
row. There he ordered five frock coats anC
/ ten pairs Of trousers. As be nodded to an
other swell who was passing out of the shoy
he remarked to me that there WIS q tendency
now for man to get as much color as pos
sible about him Thus his friend had on
red striped shirt, Q knot scarf OF several othel
colors, the silk lining Of his coat showed il
| two large shiny triangles, and be wore
fancy waistcoat Of rough stuff covered witt
red and blue lines
Now, ~ he said, "a man needn't have al
4 Ia Il. i -
to do so. Look at that man. He knows how
to wear old clothes He is no doubt hard up
but no article Of his dress is 30 new as to show
up the decay Of the others"
| The person in question was clean and wei
| built, and struck one at first as a well dressec
man. But on looking into detail IL was to b,
seen that his frock coat was old and losin5
color his top hat had been ironed many
times, and his linen, though perfectly clean
was frayed- His trousers were carefully
pressed. but beginning TO get ragged at tn,
bottom. Ny friend continued:
There's a man across the street whC
doesu't understand the art Of wearing olC
clothes at all. His clothes are apparentl,
about the same age and condition as tn,
/ others, but he has ON a new black satin scar
| which draws attention to the faded color O
| his hat and coat. That small thing Just make
all the difference and he Is obviously shabby
| His hair and mustache are not CAREFUL,
brushed, q thing which people notice witbou
thinking Of it. Observe, too. how the mai
who knows how to wear old clothes walks
His coat is buttoned, his figure is upright anS
he walks straight ahead without turning hi
head aside TO look at anything.
| ANY one who comes right in his way
however, receives a very direct aud dazzling
L