The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-08
The Coat In Business.


As a special but successful student Of the
subject we crave word with the members
OF that very important institution, the Men,
phs Cotton Exchange, now Mt odds over
the question whether they may or may not
do business In their shirt sleeves.
The act OF the Hon. JOSEPH HENRY
WALKER OF massachusetts, In removing his
coat during recent debate In the House OF
Representatives has already exhibited its
power for general Generalization. Tho
Exchange" says the Memphis Avalanche,
"is split into two factions, and the Lord
only knows now it will end" The coat ques-
ton has reached Memphis. Our Tennessee
contemporary reports q few opinions upon
lis present state:
This coat or no coat business 10 more serious than
folks think for said member of tho Cotton Bx
change yesterday. Il sec the fellows who want every
body TO coats have printed lot OF stun about
mannerS and so forth cant see that manners has
anything do with IL One be gentleman in his
shirt sleeves cant he! Tho most elegant man ever
know planter of the old regime who never wore
except at his table from the LIST OF May to the
ist Of October His shirts though. were marvels Of
Wilderness and fris and he could hand lady out OF
her carriAse with grace than anybody. His hands
were white cotton, and his wristbands as spotless
~ tho driven snow. think it's more = question OF
clean shirts than coRS'"
Another members view seems to be purely
utilitarlan
what do about the notions OF PAT dATHEs and
FISHER and the other dudes' We have got TO 70 In
for comfort in this climate Because q man wears
his in New York or Chicago is that reason why
should do It here""
The "coat fellows" as they are called.
are accused OF being insincere. A no-coat
member asserts that he saw one Of them
march up and sign that petition In his
shirt sleeves" The home style Of another
sgner was described as "sitting on his
front porch last Sunday In his bare feet
perched on the top rail Of the banisters."
New York ls not so hot as Chicago. but It is
probably about as warm as Memphis. The
climate OF one city no more requires the re-
moval ef the coat than does that Of the other.
The pongee cont, around a flannel shirt,
suits the summer air Of Memphis equally as
we'll as in New York, and, what should be
the deciding fact In this controversy, that
makes costume OF as much comfort In hot
weather as civilized man can demand for
public purposes. The Memphis coat fell
lows" whose adoption OF a platform con-
demning their own personal preferences
SHOWS Luear lTrepreSSlUle COuNlctlou VI ITO
soundness, are right.
The point is, that II personal comfort
once begins to strip business decorum OF Its
uniform, the Thermometer and not the god
dess OF modesty will regulate dress. The
natural barbarlsm Of the Memphis shirt
sleeve movement is bare and unmistakable
enough in the argument employed down
there that 1.-THE old Greeks and Romans
didn't even wear breeches and yet they
were considered pretty stylish" 1t was
only few weeks ago when the irresisti-
Bile autocrat and Speaker, the Hon.
THOMAS BowLEMovER REED, terrified at
the threatening progress Of Congressman
WALKERS revolution, was meek enough
to limit the members wishing to talk
to the single condition that they should
keep their trousers on" That was merely
catching at the last thread. The coat,
although 1t is the first and most innocent
garment to be taken of. is. in fact, the
hook, the suspender on which hangs the
robe OF civilization. Let the members OF
the Memphis Cotton Exchange, when en-
gagged in the formality Of business, keep their
coats on.