The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-28

The Amerlcan-and ] alIude only 10 the
male-is lamentably untidy. hesitate TO say
unclean, but do not hesitate TO assert, and
10 assert il vehemently, that the first clause IS
true Of our men Of all classes, stations yoca-
tons and degrees Of wealth. Its evidences
parade themselves in our palaces. where a
lack Of means cannot eIculpato In fact
cleanliness, neatness andmoney have nothing
whatever TO do with each other. AMI
mails can teach men important lessons
in self-respect. An American lady
residing in London a part Of each
year, when asked suddenly what especial
superiority she found in the British over her
own people. replied naiyely. "Oh. their men
are so clean ." The thrust was rs uncon-
scious as il was unstudied. II were well for our
men 20 accept II as such. Take one OF our
morning trains and ferries carrying an aver
age American crowd to the city Of u morning.
Here We have a fairly representative variety
Of types and Of classes. and sorry enough
spectacle it Ia which presents itself 10 our
view. even al this early hour. Spotted clothes
unbrushcd shoulders, frOwsy hair and fraycd
shirt cuffs are not uncommon. When TINS
herd returns az o'clock, after the struggle
Of the day we draw the veil
II meet "a man ia the late afternoon with
uncertain finger nails. depressed collar and
sOiled cravat and he lAbOuOusly explains TO
me that he takes his cold-water hath every
morning Mt &, and a sea-dig upon his return
20 his country home before his late dinner, |
refuse 10 be impressed. His assurances carry
no conviction. even though do not for an IN
slant doubt their yeracity. do not care 10 be
informed that he was clean early and will be
clean again anon. His present aspect Is
none the less revolving. desire him 70
be clean now, while | am in the way with him.
and not poison my day with his present for
lCrn Performance. The average American.
lie shuflies with his feet. His head Is sunk
l. II -. j. oh L la
arms are carried like the grocer boys, busy
in his conscientious delivery of the brown
paper parcel. II be bow 10 you he VIII
either give you grin and an imperceptible
nod. OF shove his head gear back and forth On
bis head without dignity. Nothing less i'm
pressive and distinguished can be imagined
than an American salute. There has been q
good deal Of righteous wrath covering the III
concealed pin pricks of II foolish jealousy IN
the TRADES OF our cOuntrymen against the
American wOman's prediction for foreign
lovers and husbands. Pray remember, my
indignant gentleman. that feminine creatures
are always allured by eXternals. The male
bird found 1t out long ago. If you did not.
Nor have / always discovered It a certain
assurance Of mental brilliancy and
moral rectitude that the poor body should be
neglected. This. however is the prevalent
opinion. and it seems hard 10 persuade our
cOuntIymen that II IS an error. II
may he said that our women, on the whole
are extremely clean IN their persons, their
clothes and their houses. They are even
dainty. Probably no establishments are
more scrupulously well kept, and this under
that peculiar restriction as 10 a proper
number Of domestics which remains tradi-
ton even in our upper classes, and which so
greatly increases the difficulties Of house
Keeping. This is a DEPRESSION. If the
American women be a martinez in the order
ing Of her home and 50 careful IN matter Of
her costume. is 1t not a lack of respect for her
fastidiOu-nc-s that her husband. father and
brother should, as they must do. constantly
shock her dehcacy.
There is a much-abused creature going
about ia our streets and drawing boot
ed. jeered ar made the laughing-stock of the
club and the scape-goat Of the theatre q
harmless mild creature enough as To reIala-
tion-possibly because he is so perfectly self
satisfed-thc dude Now the dude has done
for IA a great deal more than We deserve. for
all the abuse that il hcapod on bis good
humored defenselessness. The dude has
helped o. institute out-0f-door life among us
which is excellent, and over and beyond this
the dude keeps himself clean. All honor,
therefore. TO the dude, say Julien Gordon
in the Cosmopolitan.