Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-07
THINGS CONGREssMEN WEAR.
More Particularly the Taste They Ex-
hibit i'm H~aberdashery.

-
More Particularly the Taste They Ex-
hibit in Haberdashery.
SENATORS AND MEMBERS WHO ARE PARTICULAR
ABOUT THEIR LINEN AND OTHERS WHO ARE NOT
AT ALL so-LAwMAKERs IN FLANNEL SHIRTS
COLLARS, CUFFS AND SEcKTIEs IN CONGRESS-.
Senator Ingalls, was asked the other day why
1t was that a certain one of his colleagues. no.
torious for carelessness of his dress, should be
so frequently spoken OF as tho educated pig"
and the witty orator from Kansas replied: Il
can't imagine, I'm sure. l never could see
anything educated about him"
1t is, indeed, surprising how many members
of that utra-exclusive body, the Senate of the
United States, are negiectful sbou. their APP
parel. Senator Dolph is often seen without q
collar and necktie in warm weather. A few
days ago. while delivering a long speech on the
silver bill, he became heated. and unfastening
his tie and collar as he talked he pulled both
off and thrust them together into his hip
pocket. proceeding thereupOn to continue his
argument. Fortunately the Senator's v0lumi-
nous gray beard prevents you from perceiving
his want of collar and tie, unless you are in his
rear. when the uniucky absence of whiskers on
the back OF his neck renders the lack conspicu-
Gus.
FLANNELS IN SUMMER.
Mr.. Dolph is the only one in the Senate who
ventures to dispense with either collar or tie
in connection with a billed" shirt; but there
are several Senators who make a practice of
wearing flannel shirts in summer This habit
is an innovation introduced three years ago for
the first time by Senator Plumb of Kansas. who
cares much more for comfort than for dress
himself, though a very rich man. He is not 80
early IN HIOptlnp the garment however nc
Senator Blackburn of Kentucky. The latter is
always first in the field Of the cloth of wool
each season.
Senator Blackburn wears flannel shirts with
a large plaid pattern and from the expansive
bosom a big iamond peeps at you az if from
behind bars like a carbonized Charlotts Cor
day.
II the weather keeps on as warm as it is Sena-
tors Evarts o. New York and Morrill, of YER
mont will soon appear in their tiannel shirts.
Quay, Hawley and Vance also wear flannel
shirts when the thermometer ascends to an un-
reasonable point of brOil. The last named
never condescends to anything less chaste than
immaculate white flannel. When Palmer was
in the Senate, two years ago, he was known as
the apostle of the flannel shirt and used to go
about proselytizing in its behalf among his
colleagues. One day he struck a well-known
Senator who Is of very economical habits on
the subject and asked him why in blazes he did
not buy Il flannel shirt for himself.
ne diC SAPSLoiNc. bdlu tIt tCOuOHll-
cal Senator.
"NOnsense!' replied Senator Palmer. This
one | nave on only cost me So"
Three dollars.' echoed the Senator. "Why.
l can buy hall a dozen boiled shirts for that
much money"
Senator Hearst Of California wears red fan
mel underclOthing-a fact of which no observer
can help being made aware, inasmuch as it is
always making its appearance at his wrists or
elsewhere. the sleeves even coming down over
his hands sometimes. When he leans back in
his clair his linen shirt bosom is apt to open
in front and disclose a blaze of red flannel be-
meath. For a man OF his great wealth he is as
tOnishingly careless about the MT of what he
wears generally.
WITH NEAT SHIRT BOSoMS.
Henderson is the neatest Senator as to his
apparel generally. His collar. cuffs and shirt
are always immaculate. The first of the three
is q turn down and the tie is a dark four-in-
hand. Ingalls, is, perhaps, equally spick-and-
span by habit-his collar a tall garrote to in
close his long thin neck. Of his shirt the
tightly buttoned coat shows scarcely anything;
he has an unusually large assortment of neck
ties, and some of them arc OF bright red and
other striking colors.
Senator Sherman wears q pleated shirt bosom
and u small black tie. Senator Edmunds is by
nature inclined to be disdainful OF personal
adornnient5 and would probably be classed
among the careless members of the upper
house as to dress were it not that his family
looks after him and sees that he keeps UP the
New England dignity III such matters. Sena-
tor Ransom is much given to jerking his cuffs.
As he seats himself IN the Senate chamber he
always extends first one arm and then the
other and pull the cuffs into view.
ON THE HOUSE SIDE. "a.
Each house Of Congress has its fashions, and
the Representatives. have never given such
general approval to the flannel shirt az that
Carmen: has met with in the Senate. 1t is not
likely that they will wear this summer cos
tune 30 much during the present session as
the last. for the reason that the
two dudes par excellence of the House
William Walter Phelps and Kean of New
Jersey-who used to lead the styles and the
flannel shirt brigade, are both gone. Nc flannel
shirts have appeared as yet in that wing of the
Capitol. Silver Dollar Bland can always be
counted upon for a hannel shirt as soon as the
hot weather sets in. Like wise Harmer,
who at other times of the year Is distinguished
beyond all Of his colleagues by the gorgeous
ness of his linen and nockwear. His shirt
bosom has always the most brilliant spermaceti
gloss-usually 1t Is striped in colors-his neck
tic Is OF vivid tints i'll plaid, and the whole
effect is set off by q diamond OF considerable
size. Even when Mr.. Harmcr dcns the flannel
SHIRT the gem still sparkles in his manly bosom.
Also he wears the same wig invariably, unlike
his friend, Vice President Lew L. Morton. who
has one for every day i'll the fortnight, 80 tina.
his hair shall appear to grow naturally.
sPINoLA's COLLAR.
The mai best known for his collars IN the
House is, Of course, Gen. Spinola of New
York. 1t is simply for their size that
they are remarkable, and it is under.
stood that they are made especially 70,
him. They are about four inches high and con-
siderably bigger round than is necessary. Init.
mate friends are of the opinion that the gen,
eral wears them as u sort of mark to distin.
guish him from all other men, and certain it il
that four persons out of five. on seeing him fol-
the first time, say: That must be Spinola; for
I've often heard that he wears the largest col
lar IL the world" The generals attire is alto
gether ld-iashioned, and his shirt is made IL
broad pleats.
Most particular of all the Representatives in
the present Congress as TO his linen is Dalzel
Of pennsylvania, who comes nearer tLan an
one else to being the dude of the House.
title, however, that Is for the time being vacant
Blanchard OF Louisiana is also very particular
on that score, and likewise that military-look
ing Apollo, Gibson of Maryland. Most slovenl,