The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-09
ETHICS or CLOTHES.
Glass Distinctions EMae~a, Yet eho
DSrss stlll Proclaisas the Man.


American Wool and Cotton Reporter
ID those days when to speak Of = man
as gentleman was to say that he was
fortunately DISTINGUISHED by his birth ~
being above and. as IL were, OF race apart
from the masses OF the population. Z gen.
tleman was outwardly distinguished BY his
clothes which differed in many ways b.
side their spiendor from those affected by
thH canailie. At that period tins occuDa~
ton peculiar to gentlemen was the con.
duet Of the government. but now when
gentlemen are found In every walk Of ufe.
ana the word implies simply the possession
OF estimabIe, inward qualities. We al druoo
pretty much alike. when tina sword u.
d.catsd the mans rank. he night choose
his coiors ana the fashion OF his clothes
to suit himself, but AT present when the
dress Of a man conveys nothing Of his Ste
tion in life beyond the Indications Of ma
serfal prosperity. uniformity and the avoid
anee of display are sought.
The man of leisure n to be envied, ID
that. unlike the busy man Of AFFAIRS he
has time not only for pleasures, but that
: not havinx TO enjoy them. an IL were, be-
tween trains. he may ADAPT his costume
to the pursuit OF the moment. % ~ to 81
the most out OF H. The possession 81 =
dress suitable 10 each pursuit Or pastimo
Il condition AspiFed TO by all patrons a.
tailcrs, and II - 90 the improvement %
these along the lines or greater simplicity
and freedom that the man OF fashion NV
applies himself, who, IN 179e, would hlgye
employed artists to design costumes 6nl
select colors and jewels for him.
~ Apart from the effacement OF ciasu d.
tnctlens in dress, which n took centur1eo
70 compass. no greater change hse coma
over this matter Of closhes than one which
has been accomplished within the memory
or man. We may reprove the tendency OF
our men Of leisure to copy rather thau
emulate our English brethren in dress and
department.. but Ii II undoubtedly TO then
We our our love Tor outdoor sports, ana e
Ia this spreading rarvelously. even within
the past few years. which has improved
The breed OF men and and changed the
character OF their clothes The dandy no
longer trips In dainty shoes and shuns sx-
ert}on. but - proud OF his square ahosslder0
and deep chest. and his dress IL distan-
guisned net more by It's neatness than "
Its simplicity. comfort and gerviesabiiify
Tho marirtss which II the keynote Of
th8 change sinds no greater expression
than I'm the avoidance OF AL pretenss, sham
and yatn thew and In the perfect fitness
Of the cfothsf OF . gentleman OF taste. In
rptte of tne abandonment OF arbitrary ciaA
distinction "a apparel. IL Is by no means
difficult 60 recognize a gentleman as such
b. his clothes Quite apart from the neat
nass ana avoidance Of any conspEcuousnena
which II should BE- unnecessary 10 nnea-
fscn, N the absolute simplicity ana reality
or everything he has on, and It's fitness 1ov
tho occupation tn hand. This AfDess =
the essences Of Eocd fcrm IN clothes, ann
as Il has It's seat IN the most rigid commoa
sense. 1t 10 singular that IL II In this til
Gaucherse6 should most frequently occur.
=