Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-04-29

surprise. 1t catches them in the ma
tional costume, which is abs olutely the
worst fitted in the world for a spell
of really hot weather. fna tall silk
topper, the frock coat and the dark
constraiuing trousers-what miserable
denominations are these to weay in dog
days compared with almost any other
lands where the sun shines! The ar
tisan's and the workman's dress is little
better suited to hot spell than that
OF the professional man or London
lounger; but at least these can fling
shirt sleeves. Roasted out of conser-
vatism by the thermometers, few bold
spirits do, indeed under present cir
cumstances, discard altogether the SUI
perfluous waistcoat and go about fear
lessy with a silken cummerbund
around the waist, straw hat or white
cap on the head and the neck Judi
ciously freed from starched collar and
stiff cravat. Yet their number is COM
paratively few. There were only five
white hats worn at the queens garden
party, and the streets have been rife
with the ridiculous sight Of citizens who
hold their chimney-pot of tight and
tolTid silk in one hand, while with the
other they mop fevered brow and
furtively unbutton too rigid waist
coat and trousers band.
Stolid and perspiring, the hapIess
police Of the metropolis go about all
these fiery days in their dark and hot
blue tunics. Not so much as the dis
tant idea of a possible summer time
seems ever to have entered the minds
of those who clothe these faithful SER
wants of the public. Nay, the public
itself-as we have said-confronts the
hot weather with sort of stupid as
constituent, wearing the same articles
and style Of garb which suited winter
and early spring, but which become
outrageous, absurd and intolerable in
the tropical moons which year after
year now grow and glitter in our once
temperate zone. The female portion
of the population displays more courage
and good sense. In muslns and cam
brics, IN cool, pretty prints and tutter-
ing blouses of silk and satin, the wom-
Ell set a charming example to the
black-coated, silla hated, tight buttoned
half of the community. Meanwhile, the
wletched, conventional, tortured, ride
ulous man goes on enduring the agony
of his black broadcloth, the anguish of
his silk hat, the horror of his starched
shirt collar and the penalty of his
pointed patent-leather boots as if the
thermometer did not enjoin upon him
to be wiser.
In the east, where summer and win
ter dress are always rational, it is easy
to be temperate. The body, lightly
and pleasantly clad, takes as a bless
ing, not a provocation, the glorious
golden weather. The perspi1ation
but insensible, produces
only thirst, readily quenched by the
delicate and simple beverages of the
Indian sherbet shop or the Japanese
teahouse. But here, in these burning
English summers, the BIito14, cased in
ugly and unreasonable garments, pro.
vokes a desudation which leads to az
thirst, fierce, uncomfortable imperious
so that he actually manufactures hi
own misery and decentralization. If Shl
Wilf1id Lawson wants to strike a rea
blow at intemperance let him assail thu
top hat, the frock coat and the clotl
dress in summer. Diana would be 6
draggle-tail and Apollo be run in for
taking too much nectar if they wore
the usual London clothes in a Londor
July.-London Telegraph.