The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
MEMS DRESS ON THE STAGE.
AN ARTIST VINO rs Nor PLEASED
WITH All HE SEES.

at ono OF the ctys fashionable theatres inc scene
passed In the drawing room OF modish young |
couple Suddenly tho husband entered the room.
The young actor playing the part wore collar |
20 high that his chin was kept In the air The |
coat OF his dark summer suit was open. and as he
walked the spectators saw that he wore no waist
coat, and no belt and his white suspenders were
in plain view. Polite audiences are In the habit
OF observing such things In ordinary life only
when they see the leo man through the window,
or when the plumber or gasfitter arrives. Young
husbands in decent society do not about without
waistcoats showing their suspenders In the fash
Ion that this young actor did. Such breaches
OF propriety are rare enough on the stage nova
days, and luckily that time is passed in which
Il used TO be necessary for managers TO engage
their actors in England II they wanted thom TO
dress like gentlemen on the Stage.
Still in the matter Of every day dressing. the
average actor Is very much less careful than he
IL when II 10 getting himself ready to repre-
sent any epoch earlier than the present one. Ac.
tors who arc TO play Sbakcspearean roles, OF
those OF the classic comedies try 10 arrange their
dress In way that corresponds TO the period
and the place. IL they do mot look TO this the
manager In likely TO do NJ, and In these days
OF elaborate and effective productions the general
public has little patience with what seems To be
careless. i.prcpared, aud Inappropriate. In
matters Of modern dress, the actor naturally
has his own way. No manager would tell him
what tailor to go to or what colorcd tie to wear.
The shape Of his hat and the length Of his frock
coat arc matters which he controls, and probably
the result is better Improvement has been 50
great in this particular that fairly well dressed
actors are now q common enough sight whereas
the former representatives OF contcmporsncous
polite life on tho stage were likely to look more
az II they could not possibly have existed in such
atmosphere. The general advance In this re
spcct was seen last week at a cheap price theatre
when comedy OF very high life was produced.
Half dozen men supposed 10 be members Of arts
tocrauc society were In evening dress during
most OF the play and they looked very we'll bred
and we'll kept. Five years ago. such thing
would have been impossible under the ciruum
stances. Society plays were then given at the
best theatres by actors who ought to have known
better and yet failed utterly 10 look like tho per
sons they were representing. Photographs Of
players in the local stock companies scattered
through the country reach New York from time
TO time and these show that men in those places
have also begun to realize the Importance OF
dressing In the best style possible.
Some plays OF New York life have failed com
pleteiy because they depended on the atmosphere
the actors were supposed TO give them. This
atmosphere Of good breeding, distinction and re-
fncment entirely out Of the question when
the men were not dressed we'll, but were rugged up
In eccentric fashion. or with complete disregard
OF anything but the meresi attempt at clothing.
At one time Il was seriously proposed that the
young men who were reduced TO booming brands
OF champagne or cigarettes. OF otherwise making
prcc arious living. might be engaged 10 instruct
actors az TO the best way 10 dress. That notion
was never carried into effect. The actors then
were satisfied with their looks. and they had
moreover, a model among them that they could
all follow. Nobody has disputed John Drew's
supremacy among the well dressed men Of the
stage. and probably his example has had much
TO do with the improvement noticed in late years.
Such incidents as that Of the suspenders rarely
happen Suspenders are never seen they were
In this comedy. otherwise produced in faultless
fashion. But there is room in many cases for
improvement II Is the opinion OF an authority
on the subject that the dressing OF men on the
stage has no influence whatever on the mode Of
the men off H. Yesterday SUN reporter talked
TO the tailor on the subject. The tailor looked
through his plate glass window out into Fifth
avenue and shook his head decidedly.
We'll dressed men in club life or in society
never initiate the actors" he said. 1T would
be better thing for the actors II they would de
vote a little more time to observing the way In
which men Of the world dress theatrical
who dressed well on the stage could almost make
% ,S on that and e5 U, c 1sn
called well dressed whenever have seen him, is
John Drew Why all the other young actors
than 1 can understand. He not only has good
clothes, but he wears them we'll. They Al him
are arc merely the misconceptions, but fashionable
| dress Of a gentleman. l could name thirty men
In New York in private life who dress better
usually been we'll dressed when have seen him
in modern plays, but he is not the figure TO be
lection retain of him Is that he seems TO be neatly
and appropriately dressed in well-cut clothes
his susnsss RcSaTd MANSFIELD heidi in the only modern
play ever saw him act that did not require him
70 wear uniform wore an extremely yell.Guing
wore HIS clothes with q certain style. had his
binary we'll dressed ssn,ieman He looks more or
like professional such as an artist or musician,
thsiess distinguished. and looked ike a man Of
the world Both Of these men are different in
tho matter Of dress from Henry Miller, who eyi,
Mt Mansfield, and MI Sothern. too, for that
nj AK @ Mus Miller sIG% iooss TO me- az
his clothes were made in New York. They
which ' means mean that they a. him more lightly
81 US who have become hes, known follow
general way admire them"
This suggested the question whether American
actors were able 10 dress themselves well withou,
sending abroad for their clothes
There In no lack Of places in which actors can
buy their clothes u they want them here the
tailor replied. "but az a rule they are wofully
ignorant Of the proper place 10 go Very few
actors are New Workers, and are not able 10 dis
tinguish the shops in which they will find modisf
and correct styles from those which supply the
ordinary cuts popular in upper Broadway. lie
sides they rarely want TO pay high prices Mr.
Miller, however seoms 10 me 10 WEIR the bes
kind Of American clothes In general effect hS
In not nearly 40 well dressed az Mr. Drew, and
say that without meaning any reflection on III,
quality q the clothes 70 be had IN New York
them as smart as London dress and Mr. Miller,
tailor sometmcs does that William Favcrshan
up at the Empire has such n slight boyish figure
and liz 80 well proporiioned that he Is likely, IL
look well In whatever he wears But his clothes
would rarely hear analysis and never reveal tn,
marks either Of tholmost pensve themost selcc
handiwork He IN likely To follow temporary
vagaries Of fashion such as velvet cuffs and al
excess Of braid which has to be trcated by mas,e
n the bnsipess II they ere TO be attempted at all
Mr. Il. j. Morgan In younger man tina Mr.
| FavershAm and u quite ra abe 10 drcss well. bu
Mr.. Morgan dresses wofuv badly. No
| only his hut his ahnea hia collars and hi