The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-02
GOOD FORM
Is a Thing Which Fashionable Men
Should study.

Is Thing Which Fashionable Men
Should Study.
(CopyriQht)
New York. Oct. There is a vast deal
more difference between good form" and
fashion" than most people Imagine, and
there are many who labor under the misap-
prehensiou that "forInn is synonymous
with styls. The distinction between them
lies in the fact that whereas good form in
wolves perfect and correct taste
combired with complete alb
sence Of exaggers.ion and affection.
fashion" and "sJyle" do not The latter
are often tainted By vulgarity and by the
loudness OF their appeals TO the attention of
the public whereas good form implies
quiet refinement and elegance, q lack Of all
ostentation and violent contrasts, and an
adaptation OF fashion to ones needs and
ideas instead of any subservieuce thereto.
When good form is allied TO originality 1t
becomes what the French call "chic"
Good fern" Is by no means confined TO
dress or appearance. The use Of the express
sion may be applied 20 every act of mans
existence. Thus Ward McAllister advises
that those who want to be fashionabie'
should avoid recognizing, that il, they
should 'cut," friends and acquaintance
who, although possessed of birth and
breeding, are by reason of their limited
means shabbily dressed. This NAV be
fashionable, but it certainly is not good
FORM" nor is the habit OF ebbrevieting
words such as ''y'rs" for "yoursn and ''d'rn
for dear which the Arbiter EleGanti-
arum of New York recommends in his
books appendix, entitled THE Forms of
Invitations Used by Mr.. McAllister" Alb
brevistions leave it to be Inferred that the
writer does not regard the person whom
hn ts nd "a h Of Ek,a D. IL,
involved by writing QUIZ the word in full.
Indeed, would urge my readers TO avoid
as they would the cholera most OF the rec
concentrations OK Werd McAllister on how
TO become fashionable. For to bee Jme
fashionable, especially in the manner de-
scrioed by him. one must needs lay ones
self open to charge of vulgarity. To be
in the fashion you must blindly initiate
ape l would say, certain model, indif-
ferent TO the fact that the dress, the man
ners and the tone that suit him
may not suit you, and even render
you ridiculous Thus from time to
time the Prince Of Wales and other lead
ers of fashion who are blessed with particu-
larlsrly snort and apoplectic necSs set the
style for wearing low, turn down collars.
Now these look all very we'll on a short fat-
neoked mau, and are more comfortable for
him to wear than standup collars. They
present decidedly ridiculous and ineie-
CANT appearance, however, when worn By
men with long, lean necks. In the same
way trousers loose in the leg suit certain
mon to perfection, whereas they look
hideous on others. A small man with big
curly brim to his hat IS not cslculaJed to
inspire gravity. He would do far better TO
defy fashion and restrict himself TO q mar
row brimmed tile, which in its turn looks
decidedly awkward on the head OF tall,
stout man. 1t is necessary, therefore 20
make fashion your servant instead OF per-
hitting it TO be your master. Bend its re-
Gurements TO your own, adapt IL 10 your
physique, 20 your peculiarities of appear
ance ami to your wants. 1t may be trans
formed into good servant. But it is "a very
illogical and disegreeable mister. whose
dictates are often In defiance OF ali the
principles Of elegance, refnemen6 and good
taste.
And then, too, it is we'll to remember that
to be "iH the fashion" indicates that You are
merely one Of the crowd of men who with
out any idea Of their own concerning taste,
elegance and form, merely shape their dress,
their appearance and their manners on
those Of "a given model, who may or may
not be man deficient in refinement, breed
Ing and tole Being one of this crowd con-
sItutes an admission that you have no
originality, that you are commonplace,
and that you are prepared to sacrifice
} y
breeding TO the dictates of man whose sur
roundinEs are entirely different to your
own. If you do want to follow fashion. do
SO to the verge of vulgarity, but no far her !;
study your comfort, s5udy your principles,
your encourage and the consideration for
your fellow creatures and only yield TO its
demands sufficiently to prevent your be-
coming conspicuous by openly revolving
against il by going to the other extreme.
G iilustrnflOr of fhn lpznuar In which
fashion should he forced TO become sub
servient to the character OF the surround
ings, ! may instance the etiquette with re-
gard to walking sticks. In London and in
New York it Ia do rigueur that man
should carry either a cane or an umbrella ,
and to be seen walking without oae is not
merely breach CT good form, but in GER
tain continental cities it is interpreted In a
manner exceedingly disgusting. In Wall
street and in other business portions Of New
York the fashion uudergoes a modification.
IL is contrary to etiquette there that the
cane or umbrella should accompany its
owner when he goes out to luncheon Or
to make q business call in the neighbour
hood. In fact, it is not the correct thing to
carry a cane during business hours. When
a man takes 1t with him on leaving the
Office, it is tantamOunt to a declaration that
he does not intend to return that day The
walking stick is thus rendered silently elo-
quent Of much that is apparently beyond
its ken. Its style mostly affords an indica~
ton Of the character Of its owner Per
haps it is that which constitutes its principal
use. For the manner in which the majority
of men carry their canes seems to be for the
express purpose of demonstrating their in
dependence Of the support afforded thereby.
DAVID WECHsLER.