The record-union., 1897-07-18
RATIONAL SUMMER CLOTHING

erVation of American free lnStltulloIi0'
RATIONAL SUMMER CLOTHING.
Discussing the question of summer
clothing, the New York Times" says
that unquestionably the bicycle has
wrought for nationality in dress, and
that the improvement is especially well
come in warm weather. If the Times
is right in this expression, then it is also
undeniable that the present mode OF
dress for man is unhealthful and in
commoding This, because there is no
virtue whatever in the bicycle costume
except such as flows from looseness'
freedom for the limbs and muscles, and
prudence against taking of cold.
There is no claim made for it, we pre-
sumo, that it is more, or as graceful as
the everyday costume, but it is claimed
for it that it is more cleanly, since there
are no Topping trouser legs to catch dust
and dirt, nor to act as fiues to convey
them to the underclothing. There is
warmth, generous and sure, around the
body and close up to the chin when
needed, and yet such ventilation through
the loose mesh of the woolen shirt that
evaporation is complete and radiation
from the body is not obstructed. The
Times" which is noted for being con-
servative in all things, says:
If it We're permitted to mankind to
wear bicycling suits to business all sum-
mer, mankind would be far more COM
Portable than it is now. There are few
hardy pioneers sacrificing themselves
for the comfort of the community in the
manners of the future. Late any after
noon there may be seen in Nassau street
merchant of undoubted respectability
and solvency and of ripe years pushing
a wheel along that thoroughfare and ar
lrayed in the garb of his occupation. The
starched and painting wayfarer who be-
holds this business man defiantly carry
ing his sturdy calves through business
street must contemplate him with re-
spect.
Who refuses to mankind the permis-
sion for which the Times" sighs? Not
the law, not even the laws of society,
since men in short clothes and light
coats are common on the street, are seen
in the club, and swarm in the parks.
Fashion, however, does inhibit it. The
| costume for the home. the drawing
room, and the evening gathering and
hard and fast custom, often the law of
unreasonable, the stiff silk hat-does
frown upon this comfortable costume in
the counting room and the warehouse,
the office and behind the counter
But if the bicycle costume is so ra-
tional, comfortable and health promo
tive why not adapt without adopting it
for business purposes? For instance,
why not return to the stockings and
short clothes of our grandfather's times,
with low shoes and buckles? Why not
improve upon that by making the
breeches loose and free instead of close
fitting? In place of the vest, which is
not a garment that is to be commended
on physical grounds, over such under
wear as we deem necessary, why not the
loose blouse-shirt of wool, or cashmere,
Madras, pongee, or any material fancy
names, so long as the fabric is protecting
and soft.
| But this garment should set low in the
neck, be well open at the throat, and
| have wide rolling collar capable of
| being turned up to protect the throat if
a draught or gale is suddenly thrown
into the question. The throat must be
free from that abomination, that impris-
oning and merciless instrument of tor
ture, the stiff starched collar, which the
| Times" pronounces the most grevious
of summer sartorial grievances" Then
with the firm, close woven but light, free
and easy sack coat generously loose in
ness man, the office man, the man at
the bar and behind the desk, be ration
laIly, nay gracefully clad, be it in blue, or
brown; gray or green, black or white, no
matter what the shade of color, or the
| absence of color.
Honestly, fairly and soberly, as our
contemporary dares to say, the China
man is more nationally clad with his
open, low-necked, loose blouses than the
bicyelist or any other. But he stops at
the blouse and is simply ridiculous and
in his baggy trousers and in insistence
upon hanging his shirt upon the outside
walls of his costume But there is no
starch, no confinement, no linen bosoms
and close cotton, starched and iron, fiat
tened to create for him misery and woe,
as in the case of his brother, the white
devil
| The rational in mans summer costume
will prevail some day. The conventional
wall of starch will be broken down; the
punishment for the sins of the genera
tions will be taken from about our
necks, and left to repose in all its cruel
stiffness along with ehokers. studs and
four-in-h hand ties. We viii have a sum
nler dress that fashion will tolerate. So
| lciety will cease to laugh at and business
approve, because it will give the busi-
ness man more air, room, time and good