The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-26
i A POPULAR FALLACI.
London Fashions and Where They
$500 --. ..---~- Originate.
The Notion That Royalty Sets the styles
in Dress in the English Capital said
to Be Erroncous-Prince Al
Dert's TailOrs. -

in Dress in the English Capital said
to BE Erroncous-Pr!nce Al
-. bert's Tailors.
Within the narrow limits Of the west
end are set the fashions for nearly all
the rest Of the world, says London
correspondent Of the ClOthier and
Furnishcr. It is not the Prince Of
Wales who does it, either, with all due
respect to the multitude Of writers VINO
industriOusly propagate the faiIacy that
Albert Edward, the great, is sort OF
walking fashion-plate for the universe.
No people more ridiCule this idea than
the very furnishers who serve the jolly
Prince and his manly sons. His Royal
Highness gives less time to the contem-
pIation of his wardrobe than tWo-thlrds
Of the most ordinary drcsScrS in London.
He merely possesses the best Of taste
and studiOusly refrainS from patrOnlzlng
4 fashion that is not well grounded be-
fore il reaches him. When the Prince
of Wales requires an article Of dress his
measure, II on hand, is sent 70 the tailor
or other happy mortal destined for the
honor, and the article demanded is made
and then submitted for alterations in
person. The tradesman called to MARI
borough house to undergo the trying or
deal Of taking a royal order gets from
three to five minutes audience only,
and must be as expeditions and careful
in his measurements as to be absolutely
exact in the result, without which his
services are not likely to be asked for
second time. The Prince does not pre-
tend to know what Will be worn in adj
vance, but makes his selections of cloth
ing from existing fabrics and fashions as
submitted and advised by personal as
sociatcs and his tailor. If royalty can
be made to put on ''Startler" Of any
description for the purpose Of aStonish-
ing the natives, it is probable in the
person Of Prince Albert Victor, the new
" hcdgcd Duke of Clarence, who is 50
obliCing in disposition that his august
parent has had in past years to make
Roman holiday Of several furnishers
who have started styles on "Eddie' Of
highly sensational character.
Tho Duke OF Fife, accompanied by his
royal bride, makes no bones of going to
his tailors or furniShcrs on foot Of an
afternoon; and is good customer though
modest dresser. The Dukes tailor, re-
Gently interviewed, says that he has
about q dozen suits in constant use,
never wearing the samc suit twice in
any one week. His trousers are kept on
shelves, each marked with the day of
the week. and are the constant care
Of his valet, as the Duke will not brook
CrcaScs. AS an example of what the
complete wardrobe Of man of rank,
wealth and fashion consists Of on the
average the Duke Of Flies outfit for the
present summer may be taken. 1t con-
tainS three light and one dark tweed
suit, one blue flannel, one black serge,
one melton cutaWay, one pepper-and-
salt CutaWay, two froCk coats and two
fuII-dress suits, besides special garments
for travelling, riding, hunting, shooting
and dcCr-stalking, as we'll as half
dozen uniforms. The Prince Of Wales
wardrobe contains over thirty Of the
latter alone. .1.. q =.
Tho great ambition Of all London
tradesmen IS, Of course royal patronage,
and to this end favor is very widely
distributed, as the wardrobeS of the
royal Princes arc recruited from count
less sources, the equerries and Wallets of
the household being the principal pur
Chasers and suggesters to their masters
Of seasonable novelties. The coveted
warrant, which conveys the right to put
the royal or other arms over the mer-
chants door, is not to be obtained I'M
less some actual service has been done
and a certain standing of years is pos
sesscd by the firm; but they are not I'M
common, as the profusely gilded en-
blazonment over every third shop-front
III the West end will attest. ~-.,-...-z-,. 49,,