New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-15
FEW SUHYER NEEDS.


The idea that we were going TO have long,
lingering spring and hte summer has been
largely dlspelled during the last few days. The
man who was gong TO have the peach blossoms
ruined by late May frost has, it is suspected,
gone to Join che man who said the Centennial Cee.
bration wouldn't be success; whore, together
with that cheerful individual who said that the
Mugwump vote would be noticeable in tho last
election, IL is hoped they enjoying themselves.
The peach crop Is safe, and sump1er Is here. What
is most wanted now Is that brave spirit who
is not afraid TO put on and wear the first straw
hat.
Tho moral courage OF the man who appears on
the street with the first straw hnb Of the season
has never, perhaps, been reckoned as highly rs
IL should. He is the man who, believing that
summer has arrived, has the courage OF his con-
victions and appears in what IL most comfortable.
IN other and less prosaio ages we suppose he
would have led some great reform in Church or
State, and not shrunk from rcd-hot plough.
shares, but rather courted the attention OF the
small but significant thumb-screw. While other
men 20 on wearing high silk hats, tight derbys,
heavy felts, fur caps and other atrocities, this
man calmly comes out some morning with light
straw woodworking and emancipatcs his fellow
men, We suppose that that much refsrred-tO
Individual, the average man, would
ovcrcoat all summer II some brave spirit did not
st him the example Of appearing without one.
Still there Is no place In which we Of the stcrner
SIX feel more nt homo than when we are growing
sarcastic over poor weak womAns slavery to
fashion.
II the man who appears with the first straw
hat ~ the hero Of the summer, the one who will,
perhaps, consider himself its greatest victim Is
the man who will stand mplating his flannel
shirt about It's second wishing and thinking that
probably by the time IL is washed again be will
need n mhgnitying glass 10 sce IL. II would seem
as ~ the flannel shirt light he woven over some
sort OF a non shrinking foundation-thAt the fan
nol might he placed on both ddrs OF n woven-w1rs
Shirt for instance, like the gold over the bose
metal IN q filled" watch case, and thus this
useful part Of the summer costume be made 10
keep its original proportions This may be moro
beautiful in theory than in practice, however.
At present the flannel shirt does not meet tho
demand for q cool summer garment II seems,
perhaps, % IL IL might be laid aside with profit
and the fine woven iron-link shirts such IS were
used for amor q few centuries ago, given trial.
Some Of these iron shirts were exhibited In the
Yerestchsgin collection last winter, and they
appeared we'll made and durable; they would
certainly be cool, as the texture Is open and pill
able, and they are much lighter than one might
suppose but above oil, they would not shrink
in washing We will not soy that believe
tho wrou ght-irOn shirt will ever become popular
for summer wear, but VT would like 20 see the
man who comes out with tho first straw hat also
wear q light iron shirt and a tin collar He can
nerve himself with this thought: IL won't shrink
when 10 10 washed.