Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-18
providence Or. ~ Journai)

w. III JoufLaiJ
The offics OF Instructor In sartoriai
ethics is one which we have not sought,
and II a few chance remarks Of bur upon
the plainest principles OF dress havs bsen
magnifed into words OF more than ordi-
nary wisdom, the reason Is rather 10 20
found in the debased state Of public In
telligence than In our own superior tasta
Indeed, the philosophy OF dress Is still
too imperfectly understood for any man
to dogmatize upon 1t. Nevertheless, there
are certain elemental oOnsidera ttona
which we have felt competent to sxpound.
and TO those inquiring correspondents of
every color, race, and previous condition
OF servitude who constantly ask for ad-
vice We are glad to give what help We
can. II ought to be simple thing to
dress we'll. and yet many respectable
persons apparently do not End It So
Here, for example, Is one who pro-
pounds the following questions: o. Do
men wear "dress-suits" after o'clock
to any entertainment, public or private,
formal or informal; C9 do they invari-
ably dress for calls In tho evening; CD
do they wear dress-suits VIXEN invited
to partake OF Welsh rare BIT (sIc), or
10 share in sugar-pulling when. after
eating the rare bit or pulling the sugar.
the affair Is likely to wind up in play
Ing tag or puss in the corner7"
Before attempting TO answer these ones-
tons we must set our correspondent right
upon two points. The use OF the sx-
preston "drsss-suit" Is not commenda-
bic. Men simply dress for dinner or what
not. or wear evening dress. And Welsh
rare Bit (or rarebiD is an genealogical
blunder The proper word. undoubtedly,
Is rabbit, even II some OF the dictionaries
say the contrary. Welsh rabbit is only
piece OF culinary humor like German
duck (sheepshead). or Cape Cod turkey
(codfsh). We are told by an ancient
writer that in Italy when the friars vera
disposed to eat meat on Fridays they
''oali capon q ''piscis corte'--a FISH
out OF the coop" The Weishman's fond
ress for toasted cheese Ia historical;
hence the name Welsh rabbit.
AS to the first question. we can only
repeat what We have often ssid--te dress
for dinner is a moral obligation; 20 that
wherever man goes after dinner he
he naturally goes In evening .irsss Al
the same time, this rule il not 20 DO
followed blindiy. II Is an imperfect world,
and there are places where evening dress
might expose a man 10 serious niscca-
cepuons. He would not OF co rise wear
evening dress 20 church. and cons 'dera,
ton for the feelings OF Others would lead
him TO forbear dressing IL there were any
danger OF making the clmpany uncom.
Portable. Nor could we recommend eve.
nlng dress at ward caucus or at a church
fair or at any other conference.-the
function which one might be obli9ed 10
attend. In all such cases II 10 a matter
OF individual taste which every one must
decide for himself
The second question Is really a part of
the hrst. The proper time for calls, OF
course. Is the afternoon. when nothing
but the frock coat is dc rifeur. But II
man must call In the evening thsss IL
no reason why he should not wear evening
dress. Indeed. he Is guilty OF q nsasure
or discourtesy TO his hostess II he as
sumes that she Is not worth dressing for.
however informal the cali may be; unIsss.
perhaps. there are specific reasons why
evening dress would cause smbasrsss-
ment.
The third question we have never h.
fore been asked 10 consider. Eafinr q
Welsh rabbit implies no antAgonism To
evening dress In itself B,it pu,iine
sugar-whatever thar may bells sppay-
entity by no means an elegant eccuna-
ton. and personally we should nrefer
overails. Furthemofs. we should thirr
Welsh rabbit an III preparation fer t.s
or puss In the corner. but We do NOT see
why evening dress should interiors with
these merry sports. unless a Donald arabia
degree or freedom were aiiowsd--r,oyo
than Is customary In those circles where
evening dress 10 known at all. Ana al
though we have heard of house parsies
where guests Of both sexes IN evsr.ns
dress amused themselves by siSdinr ds~n
me panisters. there 10 really no rule 10
Apply 10 such frolicsoms occssions. n
need only be observed that evening dress
IN disoreanissd condition Is worse By
far than morning costume siusilsriv ~.
fecfed Who can see q bslStsd rev>iIsx
returning thus by daylight and rsprses :
shudder? On the wAois. We think that
the ethics OF evening dress REQUIRE :
certain propristy Of conduct.