The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-03-06
The ART OF BEING A DUDE.
some Hints as to How One May Attain
the Ambition Easily.


TO that conclusion. To constitute a
dude number of qualities must com
bine which are matters of equipment
rather than of acquisition. The true
specimen appears never really to De
initiated successfully even as to the de-
tails of dress, which ought to be easy
enough to copy.
A dude, in the first place, must be
gentleman, though obviously it does not
follow that a gentleman ought neces-
sarily to be dude. The dude can get
along perfectly we'll without brains;
nor need he be handsome man. he
must possess, however, taste in dress,
combined with a pachydermatous in
difference to being laughed at. The
true specimen accepts as so many COM
pliments the jeers of the gutter-snipes,
smiling inwardly with complacence at
shouts of, ''Is it alive or only stuffed"
and "Stick pin in it and see 1t ex-
plode!" Even secondhand potato
whistling past his head is a compliment,
ary tribute not calculated in the least
to disturb his equanimity. 1mperturb'
able sang froid is to him an indispens-
able characteristic.
In addition to this he must have a
proper accent in his speech. There is
only one accent for dude. and it is ac-
quired in perfection only by study and
practice. Nobody but dude can ever
possess that accent really and truly; it
goes with his clothes, and he would
soon lose it if he were compelled to &C
about for awhile in shabby attire. The
accent in question is partially a mixture
of the English and the Bostonese, but
with improvements upon both.
There are plenty of young men very
DESTROYS of being dudes who despair OF
attaining the ambition. They do not
know how to go about it, and it is fol
their benefit that this article is written
AS has been implied, it is not possible
in the nature of things for every one tc
be a dude, but in many cases much
might be accomplished by the following
of certain definite prescriptions.
In the first place, as to the accent
There is nothing more easy to acquire
in moderate degree, and perfection il
it is attained by persistence. 1t is very
catching, so that if you will spend {
few hours in conversation with one o.
more dudes you will find yourself i'm
itating it without intention. There
ought to be no difficulty about tina
point. Next comes the question of gar
ments, which is all-important.
The natural gift of taste ought not t.
be absolutely necessary. Let the as
pirant cultivate a habit of observing
attentively what the most successful
dudes of his acquaintance wear ant
how it is worn. For example, take thu
case of SO small and apparently trifin!
thing as the scarf-pin. In reality thi
little adornment ought to be a study
What would be your chance of bein!
considered dude in correct form if yol
were seen to have inserted your pin il
the wrong corner of your tie-in the left
hand instead of the right-hand uppe
corner, which is the only proper plac
for scarf-pin, according to dudesqu'
convention.
Definite information as to what yol
ought to wear, even down to the small
est particulars, you can obtain by tn,
simple practice of observing the dude
who are most admirable. You find on
in this way that the most correct kint
of q scarf pin is a single pearl as big a
French pea-real if you can afford it
otherwise Roman, of the sort that cal
be bought for $40. Next, you take no
tice that the necktie itself most up
proved is white, of silk or satin, ant
very wide and full, whether tied in
sailors knot or puff" You must ii,
it yourself, OF course. Nothing ,coult
be more horrible thin one of thos,
readv-made scarfs, which are such pal
pable shams.
The rest is easy enough. Any goot
tailor will supply you with clothes cor
rectly cut according to the latest fash
ions, and you can select materials Xix,
those worn by the dudes of your &C
quaintance. If it is cutaway suit tina
you are ordering choose the finest blacl
diagonal for the coat and waistcoat: TO
the trousers nothing can be better thai
shepherds plaid of very small check
Your shoes should be of patent leather
with brown CATERS; likewise your derb,
hat should be brown, though you mus
always wear silk hat in the afternoon
AS for your collar, it ought to be
standing one, turned over at the points
and you should select for your patron
age the best laundry you can find, neve
permitting polish to be put on you
linen. Have your hair cut very shor
behind, with a bang left in front, ant
permit no beard to grow save a mus
tache, which should be twisted ant
turned up at the points. Your cuff
must be square-cornered and fastened
with link sleeve buttons. Two over
coats you will need-one fall overcoa
and the other a newmarket cape Goa
for cold days.
The above is a pretty comprehonsiv,
recipe for being dude, though perfec
ton in the art is only to be obtained b,
long practice. the most difficult thing t.
arrive at being the manner. Mere dres
is simply the outward and visible sigl
of the inward and spiritual grace
There is only one true type of dude
Find perfect specimen and initial,
him persistently until you have mad
yourself into his DEMONSTRATING
Star.
A Noted Bear Skin.