The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-15
A DUDES PHILOSOPHY.
His Apparel Matter of Principle
and Not Mere Vanity.
a'Well-Dressed Men Got the Best of IT,
as He Shows by His Own Experi-
encc- How He Cares for His
Wardrobe.

the contrary, glory in it,"
This singular declaration of principles
was made to Chicago Journal reporter
by 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 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 fora moment. He knew that
the statement was founded on rock
ribbed basis of eternal truth, but he was
not prepared for that answer, which hit
him like knocB-down blow delivered
straight from the shoulder.
"Yes, | am what people call dude"
y
blush of shame mantling his by no
means unmanly cheek, ''and am pre-
pared to give good reasons why / am
one, provided you will not give the
faintest clue to my identity"
The promise was readily made and his
dudeship proceeded
"As you probably don't know, when
came to Chicago L had nothing but a
couple of abominably made suits of
clothes, 500 in cash which my poor old
father gave me to start in the world
with, and few letters of introduction
to 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
the war than they, had somehow no
talent for civil business and conse-
quently had dropped back in tho race.
In the little town / came from had al
ways been considered something of o
swell, but my first day in Chicago con-
vinced me that there were more things
about clothes that our country tailor
did not know than those he did. To be
sure, had no idea how dreadfully sug-
gestive | was of clover and timothy, just
at first.
"Well, went to one of the gentle
men to whom L had letter, and pre-
sented it to him in person at his office.
He was banker, and as he gave me one
searching look from head to foot from
under his shaggy eyebrows and motioned
me to a seat while he finished CONVEX
sation with a stylishly-dressed young
fellow of about my own age, leaving my
letter of introduction unopened on his
desk, my heart sank into my boots.
"The aforesaid, though they were
rightly polished, were built on the mud
scow model, and looked terribly clumsy
in comparison with those of the young
fellow to whom the banker was talking.
"Having glanced at his shoes, natur-
ally raised my eyes and took in his gen.
eral get up and admitted to myself
that had never seen young man quite
SO admirably rugged out in the whole
course of my existence. His collar, tie,
suit, hat-which lay on the desk-cuffs,
shoes-all were in style and taste
which, little as knew about such things
then, struck me as being not only ele-
gent, but faultless.
presently, his interview over, he
took his departure with an easy and at
the same time respectful familiarity,
which also impressed me. Again my
fathers friend gave me rapid inspec-
tion, and then said, shortly:
Well, young man?'"
"'I brought you letter, SIR stani-
mered, feeling as if his icy stare had
given me chill.
$50 you did-so you did, he NUT
tered, taking the letter from the envel-
ope. He read it through, his brow knit
and his expression in general denoted
any thing rather than satisfaction.
" so you are - IS boy?' he said;
Il am glad to know you With this he
offered his hand and allowed me to shake
it with that nerveless, deadish sort of
resigned effect than which
there is nothing more exasperating on
earth.
"After few commonplace inquiries
as to my prospects, he said there was
no vacancy either in his institution or
any other that he knew of just then, but
If would call from time to time he
would keep on the lookout for berth,
ETC., and appeared nightly relieved
when bade him good day and closed
his office door behind me. Father said
he would be sure to ask me to stay to
supper as he put 1t, but he didn't. In
fact, he didn't even mention his home
address.
''Once on the street rapidly resolved
this chilly reception in my mind, and at
the same time the recollection Of that
elegantly dressed young fellow cane
into my head. Then an idea struck ne
like fash of light. elf had been as
we'll dressed as the other man would d 1T
all this have been different? The mo o
thought of 1t the more convinced /
was that with ninety people in every
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 1T 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.
81 drifted along with the crowd, not
noticing where went, as ! examined
this proposition from every side till !