Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-09-13
HOW TO BE A SWELL.
IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH MONEY TO
DRESS WE'LL

LII Will PRISE JOu W IcSti ihC
sert, " said one of the best dressed men
in Washington, that the average man
of very moderate means could dress
handsomely ON the same amount of
money that he spends in being SLOUGH.
At all events, with the expenditure of
very few additional dollars for clothing,
he might always be well attired. What
he needs is the know how and the will
ingness to take pains. Most men are ill
dressed through sheer laziness; they will
not take the trouble to be otherwise.
How many married men do you know
who are habitually well dressed?"
precious few" admitted the news
paper man.
II should say So And if you ask such
a SLOUGH why he doesn't pay more atten-
ton to dress he will almost invariably
tell you that he has not the means to be
q swell, even if he had not so many seri-
GUS responsibilities in life of more impor-
lance than the decoration of his person.
The explanation sounds very plausible;
but the fact is that it takes only a little
more time to dress oneself well than TO
dress oneself badly, and means, as said
before, are not needed if man knows
how and will take the trouble. l don't
know any thing much better worth taking
pains about than dress up to reasonable
point. 1t is a source of happiness to the
wearer and of qualification to others; it
makes man more respected and is likely
to help him in business; tits the outward
and visible expression of the inward and
spiritual grace. l, myself, have been
obliged to make study of the subject,
because my income is 50 small that
must make every penny's worth of ex-
penditure for clothing do its utmost. But
l don't spend any more money on what
wear than does many fellow of my ac-
quaintance who goes around shabby and
seedy."
pray, how do you manage it?"
"I'll tell you. In the first place, let us
consider how much it costs to be SLOUGH.
By that term l mean to designate the
typical man of moderate means, who
buys his two suits of clothes a year-he
can scarcely get along with less-and
wears them in such a manner that they
never look new or nice, even when they
are fresh from the tailor. He pays $40.
say, for the two suits, and the boots, hats,
and haberdaShery that he must have run
up the cost of his wearing apparel to S16O
per annum, on which sum he succeeds in
being always ill dressed. One hundred
and sixty dollars per annum is precisely
the sum l expend for my attire, includ-
ing every detail. Would you like to
know how do it,"
"Very much, indeed.
"Two suits a year are all can afford,
but get them of first rate tailor, and
inasmuch as l always pay him cash down
he is willing to make mein his best stylea
walking at of black diagonal with
trousers of different material in deli
cate stripe for $50, and a sack suit of
some pretty check with two pairs of
trousers for $50 l make no varia-
ton in the thickness of the stuff used
from winter to summer, because | wear
the suits in all seasons; it is much easier
to make the under clothing supply the
difference in warmth that is requisite.
The sack suit l buy new each spring,
and it serves me as business costume
But do not wear the coat at my office
ever. When l reach there | take it off
at once, hang it on nail, and put
on black silk coat, cost SD for the
years wear, for the day When l start
for home l assume the sack coat again.
The two pairs of trousers l wear alter
nately, and so they are made to last
through with care. The cutaway suit
wear when 1 am out anywhere in the
evenings and on Sundays, or when have
leisure for taking walk abroad. And
here comes the first important point.
never wear either of my two good suits
while at home save when there are
guests or at dinner. Upon returning
from walk on Sunday, for instance, |
take off my coat and waistcoat without
delay and hang them up; the trousers l
put away, folded, on the closet shelf as
if they were not to be used again for
months. After dinner, unless | am 60
ing out, l go through the same per-
Torrance, never wearing my best
clothes in the house an unnecessary
moment. The suits of the year before,
always in good state of preservation,
are for home use. 1t is really astonish-
ing how long clothing will keep its fresh
and new look when treated in this way.
"But my clothes always get spots on
Them"
"That is something which should never
be permitted to happen; there is no good
reason or excuse for it. Care will pre-
vent it. Grease spots and good dressing
are incompatible. There is a popular
delusion, apparently, to the effect that
grease spots come out when subjected to
proper treatment AS a matter Of fact
no real grease spot ever comes out of
wooden cloth. Get such a spot on the
front of your diagonal coat-a splash of
gravy at dinner will do it-and you can
never eliminate it by any means short
of burning up the garment. You may
send the coat to the cleaners and have
it put through the dry process and the
steam process audit will come back look
ing like new, without visible stain.
But the grease is still there and as soon
as it has had chance to catch little
dust it becomes as conspicuous as ever.
Therefore, realizing the indestructible
quality of the grease spot, the man who
would dress well must, by being always
on his guard, avoid such Affections. And
they can be avoided successfully. But
SO far have only told you how S113 out
of my allowance for clothes of $3.50 is
spent Up to this point l have only my
two suits of swell garments and my black
silk coat"
And you have only SAT left?"
"That is all, but it is plenty. Three
r. l..