The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-04-17
A DUDES PHILOSOPHY.
His Apparel Matter of Principle
and Not Mere Vanity.
@Well-Dressed Men Get the Best of IT. y
rs He Shows by His Own Expert
ence How He Cares for His
Wardrobe.

wardrobe
~ am dude. What is more l am
not at all ashamed of the fact, but, on
the contrary, glory in it,
This singular declaration of principles
vas made to Chicago Journal reporter
By a young man who moves in very
select West Side society circles. The
reporter had started out to investigate
the subject of dudes, and if possible
how they live, move and have their
being among the gilded throng on, in
many cases, such salaries as plenty of
estimable young Bohemians would find
It difficult to pay board, room rent and
the other little expenses incidental to a
journalistic career. He had by accident
run across young man to whom on a
previous occasion he had been able to
render a service, and with that innate
modesty for which Worlds Fair city re-
pOrters are pretty famous he had asked:
What can you tell me about dudes?'
The answer as given above fairly
dazed him for a moment. He knew that
the statement was founded on a rock
ribbed basis of eternal truth, but he was
not prepared for that answer, which hit
him like knock-down blow delivered
straight from the shoulder.
Yes, am what people call dude"
continued the young man without the
blush of shame mantling his by no
means unmanly cheek, 'sand am pre-
pared to give good reasons why / am
one, provided you will not give the
iaintest clue to my identity"
The promise was readily made and his
dadeship proceeded:
AS yon probably don't know, when I
came to Chicago | had nothing but
couple OF abominably made suits of
clothes, 500 in cash which my poor old
lather gave me to start in the world
WIN, and a few letters of introduction
% men now prominent in business, with
whom the pater had served in the army.
As the years passed they had continu-
ally climbed the ladder, while he.
higher up in the army at the close of
eae war than they, had somehow no
hlent for civil business and conse-
qnently had dropped back in the race.
in Inc little town came from had al
ways been considered something of a
swell, but my first day in Chicago con-
flnced me that there were more things
sDout clothes that our country tailor
oa not know than those he did. To be
sure, had no idea how dreadfully sug-
geSslye | was of clover and timothy, lust
at first
Wen, went to one of the gentle
men 70 whom l had letter, and pre-
sTnsed 1t to him in person at his office.
ne was banker, and as he gave me one
aealenlng look from head to foot from
aaoer his shaggy eyebrows and motioned
- 70 a seat while he finished CONVEX
@slon with stylishly-dressed young
,slloW Of about my own age, leaving my
,stler OF Introduction unopened on his
sSsk, my heart sank into my boots.
Inc aforesaid, though they were
.gatiy polished, were built on the mud
wv model, and looked terribly clumsy
= SsMparison with those of the young
'saOW 20 whom the banker was talking.
Having glanced at his shoes, natur-
~ raised my eyes and took in his gem
t get up and admitted to myself
10y aad never seen a young man quite
a0lfifably rugged out in the whole
ssa1se OF existence. His collar, tie,
~ nat-which lay on the desk-cuffs,
49, ,syes-an were in style and taste
sA'eh' little as knew about such things
.ssa' struck me as being not only ele-
sAas, 0ut faultless.
Ffesently, his interview over, he
i. ~ nis departure with an easy and at
81 same time respectful familiarity,
s.1en also impressed me. Again my |
ssas1 eaa friend gave me rapid inspec-
y, / .,n ana then said, shortly:
nell, young man?' y
s..s brought you letter, sir I STAN
sss $50, feeling as if his icy stare had |
slAen mea chill.
b,.s 3 you did-so you did, he NUT
a ls ssking the letter from the envel- |
81 :, ne read it through, his brow knit
snr sss .s expression in general denoted |
s.cu salag rather than satisfaction.
q.n Sou are - IS boy?' he said; |
49, ~ glad to know YOU With this he
.e, 80 ais hand and allowed me to shake
,s .sa mat nerveless, deadish sort of
Rs,s sseasso-my-fate effect than which |
sesh AOsning more exasperating on
- few commonplace inquiries
prospects, he said there was