The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-28
A DUDES PHILOSOPHY.
His Apparel Matter Of Principle
and Not Mere Vanity.
"Weii-Dressed Men Get the Best of 1t"
as He Shows by His Own Expert
ence 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
estlmable young Bohemians would find
1t dlfhcult 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?'
Inc answer as given above fairly
dazed him fora 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.
Eyes, | am what people call dude"
continued the young man without the
blush of shame mantling his by no
means unmanly cheek, land / am pre-
pared to give good reasons why / am
one, provided you will not give the
faintest clue to my IDENTIFY"
The promise was readily made and his
audeship proceeded:
AS you probably don't know, when
came to Chicago l had nothing but
couple of abominably made suits of
clothes, 500 in cash which my poor old
father gave me to start in the world
with, and a few letters of introd uctiOn
to men now prominent in business. with
whom the pater had served in the army.
AS the years passed they had contnu-
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-
9uentiy had dropped back in the race.
In the little town l came from had al
ways been considered something of a
swell, but my first day in Chicago con-
WINGED me that there were more things
ABOUT clothes that our country tailor
dlu not know than those he did. To be
sure, had no idea how dreadfullv sug-
gestlve was of clover and timothy, lust
at first.
''Well, | went to one of the gentle
men to whom | 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
satlon with stylishly-dressed young
fellow of about my own age, leaving nv
letter of introduction unopened on his
desk, my heart sank into my boots.
1.-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-
giant, 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-
ton. and then said shortly:
Well. young man?'"
6 i brought you letter, SIR STAN
mered, feeling as if his icy stare had
given me chill.
so 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.
$50 you are ---'s 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-to-my-fate effect than which
there is nothing more exasperating on
earth.
After few commonplace nQuiries
as to my prospects, he said there was
no vacancy either in his institution OF
any other that he knew of just then, but
if l would call from time to time he
would keep on the lookout for berth
etc, and appeared nightly relieved
when l babe 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 it. 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 al
the same time the recollection of that
elegantly dressed young fellow came
into my head. Then an idea struck me
like flash of light. If had been a.
welharessed as the other man would not
all this have been different? The more
/ thought of it the more convinced ]
was that with ninety people in every
hundred the clothes make the man.
This coupled itself with another idea.
mans social position has more to dc
with his business success than his bust
ness success with his social position.
In other words it is easier for a man
with social backing to climb up in bust
ness than for man in business to climb
up In social position.
Il drifted along with the crowd, not
noticing where / went, as | examined