Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-09-25
AN IDEAL BACHELOR.
AwRlTER WHO UNDERTAKES TO TELL

There are those who would say that a
bachelor has no business to be complete;
that it is the duty of every young man
to marry at the earliest practicable mo-
ment and so give over the selfish joys
of bachelorhood. But as long as young
men in their lamentable desire to be
comfortable refuse to look at the matter
in that light there is need that they
should be duly instructed in the proper
ties of their position, and what better
instructor could they have than the
anonymous genius who writes of things
Gas Seen by Him" in that very fash
ionable publication, Vogue? 1t is he who
tells them what "the complete bach
elor" should be, and if they are wise
they will listen to his words. All the
contingencies which arise in the social
life of the bachelor are duly considered
First, there is the matter of his public
manners, in which many men who re-
gard themselves as well bred are woe
fully deficient. They will smoke in the
street, keep women standing on corners
while they talk to them, sit while wom-
ell are standing, carry sticks Or umbrel-
Ate' op ciiNliHiNS ttiiSlSs, StttiN out
of countenunce at theaters or hotels,
and i'll general make nuisances of them
selves. Now, bachelor who will do
any of these things is wretchedly i'll
complete.
Then comes the question of clothes
Nothing more distinguishes the gentle
man than what he wears. Nor is it
enough, as many do, to be nice in the
matter of gloves, shoes or cravats and
owe large sums to the tailor. Dressing
is not so much matter of money as
matter Of taste. After man has put
his wardrobe in proper condition he
may get along remarkably we'll on a
very small yearly sum. Our author does
not disdain to give economical hints,
to tell how the tailor around the corner
will do perfectly we'll some things for
which the "swell'' tailor would charge
roundly, to explain how to get out of
suit the utmost possible service. Such
things are beneath no mans attention,
though he be a genius or a millionaire.
Until the art of dressing properly is un
derstood, the moral progress of society
will remain an idle dream. We need
not add that the man who wears
made tie' belongs i'll the outer dark
ness of barbarism. 1t is gratifying also
to note that the use of the Tuxedo, or
house coat, is earnestly recommended.
Since every complete bachelor will in
variably dress for dinner, he will find
in the Tuxedo all economical and easy
substitute for the more rigorous full
dress coat, and one that can be worn
not only at home, but in informal COM
panies of gentlemen and at the theater
or in Il public restaurant. We note that
our author speaks a good word for the
black tie with Tuxedo, though he does
not absolutely bar white one This is
question upon which no thoroughly
satisfactory ruling has ever been made.
For our own part, we think that those
occasions whereon man feels a white
tie incumbent also demand "swallor
tail" coat.
The toilet is not less important than
the dress. Scrupulous care in this re-
spect is certainly the mark of a COM
plete bachelor. That man should take
his tub every morning goes without say
ing. At the same time there is no need
to insist upon the rigor of the game and
say that the water shall be cold. Tepid
water is best. EVERY man should learn
to shave himself ~ These are golden
words. A barber is occasionally neces-
sary no doubt, but there is something
offensive to refined sensibilities in the
picture of a long row of men in chairs
ho1 . rf+ +l,n; %>,1o ol
Our author says nothing of the habit of
having boots BACKED in tho street, just
ly regarding it as one so bad as to be
unspeakable. Patent tooth powders,
washes, pOmatums and nostrums of
every kind are condemned without re-
serve. This, too, shows good sense. The
care of toilet articles is rightly insisted
upon. A man cannot be complete
bachelor unless he is yelling to take
some trouble The custom of wearing
the hair long is disapproved.
No point is too minute for the consid-
GRAFTON of this thoughtful writer. The
etiquette of cards is a matter upon
which lamentable ignorance is often
displayed, and in calling and dining
out there are those who show the lack
of breeding. The practice of grasping
Or squeezing the hand Of lady is (bar-
ring exceptional circumstances) unad-
visable. "a man removes his glove
from his right hand on entering the
drawing room, and holds this, with his
stick and hat, in his left. The hat should
be at an angle, the top about level with
his nose" This is important. But some
thing more than mere politeness is re-
quired of the complete bachelor. His
! goodness of heart will come out in his
treatment of his servants Though he
must "exercise an iron WILL" he must
also encourage them now and then by
u kind word " And once in awhile they
must have Il holiday or some cast off
clothing. They, in their turn, should
be "nOiseless and automatic" Such
things too many young men forget.
With this book, however, they cannot
go very far astray. They can learn how
to behave at dances and at country
houses and at clubs. If it be objected
that on these Subjects gentlemen do not
need instruction, the retOrt is obvious
Persons who are not gentlemen have
their ambitions and frequently try to be-
come complete bachelors And since
this is so, let us be grateful for the
mentor who is able to give them SO
much excellent advice. - Providence
Journal
The father of biography was Plutarch.