The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-16


- RESs is a very important stepping
stone to happiness. As all nature
is the garment of God. by which
He is manifest to us; as the Spirit
- is clothed by the body. ana the
body in turn is made beautiful or repul-
sive ny the indwelling soul. SO is dress
related to the body. For. surprising
man or a woman to have sufficient mon
ey rc dress according to desire. then at
tire becomes to mind all that form is to
substance II is an index, a symbolic
language: so much so. that lover having
seen his mistress in her various costumes
has the key to her character. If he have
wit enough to use IL.
Taken as a national index of character,
dress is the outward sign of a peoples
peculiar genius. Their square graceless.
scant clothes were as characteristic OF
the Egyptians as their pyramids and ODE
lisks The loose. ample robes of Asiatics
are the natural drapery of luxurious
temperament. The elegance of the an
cient Greek costume was the rsiment OF
a. race to whom form was more than
color. The LONELINESS of Saxon fashions.
the rude magnificence of Norman barons.
the picturesque garb of the Scottish
clans: indeed. all national costumes. have
q far deeper significance than vanity;
and some Daniel will yet arise who shall
Judge the centuries by the way in which
they have dressed themselves.
More familiar to us, Is the cosmicai
change that as sign of our era, Is
quite as remarkable as any indicated
the rapid Disappearance Of all national ana
class costumes. The pretty. suitable
dresses that clothed the reasantry of all
centuries are being rapidly abandoned;
and men and women grow more and more
cosmopolitan in matters of attire. In
every land. women now wear the same
reQnccta-
BILE man on the planet is supposed to
have a tweed suit and a Derby hat. This
means much more than fashion ana van
ity; II means the grinding to powder In
the democratic mill, of all signs and sym
bols of slavery. feudalism, and mans in
equality. 1t means that men and women
are everywhere throwing off the bond
age Of caste. and asserting through their
coats and hats and dresses that one hui
man being is just as good az another.
Now IL dress has such a pronounced
and wide national Significance, Its per-
sonal power is even more remarkable.
We are all influenced. not only by what
others wear. but by what we wear our
selves. The business suit OF good. dark
tweed, the white. fine linen. the stiff COL
lar and GUNS, give a kind Of moral sup
port and inspire confidence. A loose.
careless dress conduces to a loose, care
less habit of mind. There Is a positive
value in the different suits that men
wear, because they are a positive help
to the frame of mind necessary for the
occasion.
A suit that II associated with the re-
pect due to the sanctuary Is best for that
dress that fits naturally into business
moods; another that seems proper--be-
cause usual-in formal festivities; another
of loose, easy comfort for domestic re-
taxation and rest.
A, mans happiness. yea, his success.
In far greater measure than Is sus-
pected. depends upon such auxiliaries.
And It may he taken as an axiom that
a man careless as to his dress will be
careless about every other matter. And
there Is no excuse for such an one at this
day: for In spite OF criticism. the male
dress OF our period is sensible and
healthy. and highly conducive to COM
fort and happiness; the soft hat. the easy
coats, the light flannel garments and
soft ties permissible In hot weather. leave
nothing to be desired, especially as men
have generally abandoned black. the most
unhealthy of all coIors.
The fundamental theory of clothes, then.
asserts the existence of harmony be-
tween human beings and their artificial
covering; and also harmony between hu-
man beings and the work In which they
are occupied. or the circumstances IN
which they are placed. viii Honeycomb
man is in by the color of her hood T1e
saying Is a profound one. and II hus-
bands would make study of their
wives ribbons and gowns and toilet PEI
cullarities they might avoid many matri-
monial plumbers. l knew once a very wise
man who always went softly and con-
sidered his words well when his wife
came to the breakfast table in certain
red shawl. have not the slightest doubt
that an individual observance OF this
sympathy between dress and moods would
save many n domestic quarrel. and so
conduce to much happiness.
II is indeed impossible for the most arr
bitrary fashion to eradicate. in sensitive
women especially. certain tendencies TO
symbolic their states OF mind by their
dress. Most of my female readers. dare
say. possess bonnets and gowns that
they can only wear on days when they
are ''at their best when they ARE equal
to. them" There are days and moods
In which curled or loose wandering hair
is intoDerabIe. Any man OF ordinary tact
or intelligence may know that when a
womans hair In brushed tightly back and
rigidiy coiled. when her bright ribbons
are hidden In drawers. her pink and blue
dresses hung at the back OF her ward
robe. and when she herself appears se-
vereiy clad In her black alpaca. thai the
woman is in an inauiring, reforming tenn
per. that she is going TO hook into ex-
penses. and call children and servants 10
account. And II he Is discreet. ne will
not interfere nor ask questions for the
plainly dressed woman means business
which may fairly be called Happiness
making"
1t IL very useless thing 10 advise a
young man az to the girl he ought to
marry. Yet the marrying man may well
take dress into close consideration He
may, for instance, be ~ure that any girl
who. without appearing singular, can
keep at good distance from any pre-
vailing fashion win make a good wife
This. not because " is a proof Of her be-
Ing quiet and modest. but because " gives
evidence Of her poSEe~sing an art OF
great Importance In domestic happiness
the art Of making the best af herself
Most modes Of fashion carried 10 ex-
trenes are ugly. II iE a bunch here. and
a bunch there. too much drapery IN one
place, and not enough In another: health.
propristy and beauty are slnned against