Evening journal., 1897-02-22
AN IDEAL BACHELOR.
AwRiTER WHO UNDERTAKES TO TELL
ALL ABOUT HIM.

There are those who would say that
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 rs long rs 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, Vogues 1t is he who
tells them what 1.-THE complete bach
elor' should be- and if they are wise
they viii listen 20 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, sitwhile wom-
en- are standing, carry sticks or umbrel-
las at offensive angles, stare women out
Of countenance at theaters or hotels,
and in general make nuisances Of them
selves Now, a bachelor who win do
any of these things is wretchedly in
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 a
matter Of taste. After a man has put
his wardrobe in proper condition he
may get along remarkably well 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 well some things for
which the ''swell" tailor would charge
roundly, to explain how TO get ont of a
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
viii remain an idle dream We need
not add that the man who wears a
'made tio'' belongs IN the outer dark
ness of barbarism. 1t is gratifying also
to note that tho use of the Tuxedo, or
house coat, is earnestly recommended.
Since every complete bachelor Will in
variably dress for dinner, he viii find
in the Tuxedo an economical and easy
substitute for the moro rigorous full
dress coat, and one that can be worn
not only at home, but in informal COM
panies of gentlemen and at the thcater
or in public restaurant We note that
our author speaks a good word for the
black tie with a Tuxedo, though he does
not absolutely bar a white one. This is
a question upon which no thoroughly
satisfactory ruling has ever been made
For our own part we think that those
occasions whercon q man feels q whitc
tie incumbent also demand "NGll0r
tall ccGt.
Tho 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 tho game and
say that the water shall be cold. Tcpid
water is best. Every man should learn
to shave himself These are golden
words A barber is occasionally ncces-
sary no doubt, but there is something
offensive to refined sensibilities IN the
picture Of a long row Of men in chairs
having q part of their toilet performed.
Our author says nothing of the habit Of
having boots blacked in the street, just
| " regarding it as one so bad rs 10 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
upoh. A man cannot be a complete
bachelor unless he is yelling to take
some trouble. The custom of wearing
the hair long is disapproved
No point is too minnie for the consid.
Grafton of this thoughtful writer The
etiquette of cards is matter upon
which l;aacntable ignorance is often
I AlNlilNfNNf iiih III tAiAiuS ailA NlHilA
ont th rc are those who show the lack
of br ding. The practice of grasping
or squ zing the hand Of a 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 Nero politencss is re-
{ quired of the complete bachelor His
goodness of heart win come out in his
treatment Of his servants. Though he
must exercise an iron will, he must
also encourage them now aad then by
n kind word And once i'm awhile they
must have q holiday or some cast off
clothing. They, in their turn. should
bo 'noiselcss and automatic Such
things too many young men forget
With this book however, they cannot
f go very far astrav. They can learn how
F 10 behave at dances and at country
/ houses and ut clubs. If it be objected