Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-04-12

nOtnlng more felaDle tnan tailor
shop" His argument was that in times
OF plenty men buy more and better
clothes, than at other times, and that
a money stringency is first felt and
seen in a mans dealings with his
tailor
This is probably true; and if we al
low ourselves to wander a bit into the
field of philosophy we shall doubtless
find that this same humble shop is
temple, and the unpretending genius
within an oracle who speaks as Delphi
never did. of more and greater things
than mans financial we'll being, for,
in the language of the immortal Sartor,
man is a feathehless biped that wears
breeches and his tailoring operations
proceed not by accident, but the hand
is ever guided on by the mysterious
workings of the mind"
Ornament was the first purpose of
dress with primeval man. his first
spiritual want was decoration
Warmth and decency were later con-
sideratiOns. Many and various were
the cuts and colors of the garments of
men while the earth was still young,
and man was free to follow the vaga-
ries of his own fancy in the matter of
dress; but now a change has come, and
the dead, monotonous sameness which
the god of fashion has imposed upon
our fleshly habiliment has largely done
away with that wholesome and inter
esting variety in shape and color, in
masculine garb especially, and gen
dered commonness in us, confined
not merely 60 the texture OF our out
ward decoration, but shown also in
the texture of our inner selves. Yet
fancy is not altogether lost, and to the
philosopher man is not wholly hidden
in his garments even yet. Through
the trihing variations fashion suffers
still to continue the workings of the
inner man are still more or less per
fectIy seen. Harmony Of color shines
out here and there betokening d
healthy mental poise; shapes and
forms Of beauty are met with at times,
that give evidence Of artistic predispo-
sition; simple styles and shades, uccd-
sionalIy seen, declare the quiet modesty
OF the man within; homogeneous COM
oinauons frequently in evidence show
where sense Of proportion is wanting,
and betrays a futile struggle for an eff
Sort one does not fully understand: q
laundering tumble of discordant colors.
not at all infrequent, announces to the
world that no bp ole IN, tho, &,
constitutionally awry. spiritually
drunk, and has long forsaken his wor-
ship Of the true and beautiful and
gone in search Of other gods; and a
lurtd tie, which also is common, sulfi-
cient to madden a bull convulse a
Venus, and make Diana weep. adver-
tises to all men the sad fact that he
who wears it is forever lost, and
vaunts his bloody emblem in capitula-
ton to the fends Of pandemonium
But to return to the tailor. with whom
we started and whom we had almost
forgotten.
At this time of the year each warm
sunshiny day stimulates customers to
put in their orders for spring suits
and tailors say that the spring bus
mess has now fairly begun.
This is a much better season than
last spring, and far better than pre-
ceding years, said a downtown tailor
esterday. Our customers are asking
for better quality of goods and are
willing to pay higher prices than in
reviouS seasons. The very finest
abrics are in great demand"
There are very few startling or radi-
cal changes either in materials OF
shapes this year Grays will be worn
as much as ever in stripes and striped
checks and browns will be little
more popular than heretofore. Sof
shades of green and olive are being
introduced for sack coats Fancy
vests will be more popular than ever
although there is a better demand fol
them in the fall than in the spring
Golf suits will be worn as much az
ever, and it is anticipated that the reC
golf coat will increase in favor.
As for changes in shapes, the sacl
coat will be made to fit the figure a lit
tie more closely in the back, avoiding
the box effect of last season, and Civ
ing the shoulders broader appear
ance. Vests are to be cut even highe
than last year. The trousers will b.
made fuller about the hips and to tn,
knees, but will be small at the bottoms
This gives the so-called peg-top ap
pearance. The changes, however ar,
so slight that they will be scarceI.
noticeable Creasing will b less pop
uIar than in the past, the present IA
being to crease the trousers to a pQln
below the knee, leaving them smoot
about the ankles.
Spring overcoats will use almost a
wide range of colors as suits. Gray'
shades of brown and olive green pre-
dominate and all are to be faced t. ~
seams with silk of a correspondent
color. There is no change in evenin
dress except that vests are to be CT
slightly narrower.
NINE. CAMILLE D'ARVILLE TO WE