The Colfax chronicle., 1890-04-19

/ hundred the clothes make the man.
This coupled itself with another idea.
A mans social position has more to do
with his business success than his busi-
ness success with his social position.
In other words it is easier for a man
with social backing to climb up in busi-
ness than for . man in business to climb
up in social position.
II drifted along with the crowd, not
noticing where went, as / examined
this proposition from every side till
brought up suddenly in front of atailor's
window. Then another idea laid hold
Of mel was prolific in ideas that day
which finally shaped itself like this:
The pater had given me 500. two new
suits and his blessing with which to
start the world on my own hook. II
my conclusions were correct my best
chance was to make myself look as
citified as possible. entered the shop
and asked the price of various things,
but could see from the style of the
man who waited onme that this was not
exactly frst-class house and did not
order anything. After knocking about
for q while came to another place
where the sign read: Tailor and Draper,
and no goods were displayed in the win
dow. / knew instinctiyely that my
search was ended and in went.
"The salesman was dignifed, even
pompous, old chap with Dundreary
whiskers and bald head. He received
me as if had been heir apparent to the
biggest packer in Chicago. Well, what
do you suppose did?"
s'Give it up" replied the reporter, not
only interested but impressed to some
extent BY the dudes philosophy.
81 just told him who l was, showed
him my letters and let him read one of
them. / then told him the conclusions
l had reached, how much ready money
I had and asked him how the thing
could be managed. 1t was tolerably
callow act, I'll admit. but / just hap
pened to strike the right man.''
''Young sir" said the pompous party,
solemnly, "you will succeed. You have
discovered for yourself most important
fact governing the whole social fabric.
Clothes do make the man and ON first
impressions most Of our success or fail
ure depends
Before he let me go he had booked
my order for three suits of clothes at
sl2o and accepted 500 down, giving me
time ON the balance. Under his direc-
tions bought hat, pair of shoes,
some collars and ties and other little
things, and ordered copper-plate visit
ing card. By the time got through /
only had about So left out of my hum
dred, and knew that expenses must be
retrenched. found q room at So
month out near Garfield Park. next
took my other ''suitr and sold it for 81,
though it cost me $50. then paid my
bill at the hotel and retired to my modest
little room to wait until my new clothes
were ready, the other things having
been delivered meanwhile, and . very,
very cheap restaurant supplied the wants
of my inner man during the first year OF
my Chicago experience. But to get on
with the stosy. When my new clothes
came home arrayed myself carefully
in the better Of the two tweed suits, put
on fashionable collar and tie, my new
shoes, which l had meantime broken
in and my new Derby. Never was
Solomon in all his glory so thoroughly
well pleased with his personal appear
ance as l was with mine when / started
for down town. had sent my other
letters through the mail each accom-
panied by card. OF course it was
hardly the correct thing to do, but 1t an
swered my purpose, and when sent in
the fac smile of the card, received
warm welcome, two invitations to din
ner, one to lunch right then and there
at Kinsley's, and bid to little in
formal gathering the next evening.
Before slept was engaged as clerk by
. large corporation at a salary, to begin
on. of $50 per month, and to-day-whis-
per, my boy-I am engaged to the sec
ond daughter of one of our high officials,
and the clothes did it"
''Sixty month is not particularly
fat salary" suggested the reporter.
mot absolutely running over with
oil, agreed the dude with laugh, sbut
it's wonderful what lot of things
careful fellow can do with that much
money. During my frst year here my
sible. You see, as soon as got into the
swim ! kept right along. AS had .
position, had no dificulty in per-
suading my friend with the Dundreary's
to let me have dress suit and light |
overcast which he very decently gave
me at $40 for the two. This left me
owing a balance of $3.50. which ! re-
duced at the rate Of S12 month. MY
other expenses were: Rent, $s; laundry,
$3.50; eating, $10.5O. This was light,
for seldom had to buy any thing but |
breakfast and lunch. Car fare, So. Then |
for cigarettes and sundries expended
about "a. This left me $f9 for . very |
occasional trip to the theater. flowers !
for my lady friends, of whom soon
had many, and other little social atten-
tions. But in spite of every thing, /
saved $50 in the first year.
ssT IL -