The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-09
EFFECT OF THE HOT WAVE.
The Shirt Waist Man Everywhere In
Evidence.

ITS a liet" shouted TAT man, who
hatless and eoatless. stood sweltering OF
the Avenue late yesterday afternoon tvhei
| a friend told him that the maximum tenn
peraturn recorded at the Weather Bureau
was only Sc.
Incredible at 1t may seem to many, th,
weather of yea:srday was two degree.
cooler than on Tuesday. Between 3 ant
4 O'Clock 95 degrees was registered at tn,
Weather Bureau, and then the mereur,
began to drop. About the same time the
| liquid in the instrument at Affieck's reach
Cd point four and one-half degrees
higher. or 100 1-2.
This difference is accounted for by the
fact that the Government instrument is
| located in a cooler place, swept by every
breeze. and in complete shade. At Affieck
| the wind is shut out and the heat is IN
tensified by the reflection of the sun Z
rays from the scorching pavement
There seems to be no prospect OF cool
| weather for few days. The forecast
sheet issued at the Weather Bureau last
night said: Fair and continued warm
weather tomorrow and Friday
The shirt waist man was the rule rather
than he exception yesterday. He is get
ting bolder ana will probably soon win
recognition fIofl Dame Fashion by the
sheer force of his numbers.
Cafe and restaurant proprietors and the
managers Of the various hotels are in a
quandary. Shall they admit the shirt
waist man to the dining rooms? That is
the much-mooted question. PhiIadelphi..
and New York bonifaees have not all rec
ognized as yet the shirt waist man as an
established social institution
What Is needed to settle the question:
say those who advocate the eoatless in
novation, ''if recognized social leader,
a latter-day Ward McAllister, who will
place the stamp of approval upon the
shirt waist, then no one can abuse the
shirt waist man OF breach of good form
and he will be free to revel in his new
found cure for perspiration."
Even at this early date there is desire
for change in the style Of the shirt waist.
For comforts sake 1t is proposed to do
away with the belt and to support the
trousers with a row of buttons on the
waist. Whether this style will be placed
on the market, however, remains to be
seen.
Extreme Iassitude," was the complaint
most prevalent-in Washington yesterday.
Those who were not, by the exigencies of
their business, compelled to go upon the
streets, remained at home in the coolest
hooks they could find. Fewer shoppers
were abroad than any day since hot
weather set in.
Soda fountains did a rushing business,
and ice water was in demand everywhere.
1t is estimated that the wear and tear
to the palm leaf fans Of the District
amounted to tidy sum. AS the mercury
rose the asphalt pavements softened till
heavy wagons, drawn by lather-covered
horses with sponges on their heads. left
deep wheel tracks to mark their course,
Bicyclists, teamsters. and automobile
drivers all chung tenaciously to the shady
side Of the streets.
Barefooted newsboys stepped gingerly
along the hot sidewalks and cried their
papers with less than customary lustiness.
Their papers sold they would exchange
their pennies for the goods of the hockey
pokey ice-cream" men, who occupied, with
their carts, many shady and more sunny
street corners.
When the army of clerks began to pour
out of the Government buildings at
O'Clock the street car lines en- route to
amusement resorts received heavy patron
age.
Following are the official figures of the
temperature for twenty-fcur hours, end
ing 10 p. m. Wednesday: Midnight, So;
a. m, 81; a. m. n; 6 a. m, II; a. m,
So; 10 a. m, IS; IL noon, 81; p. m, "a;
p. m, 90; 6 p. m. "a; p. m, IS; 10 p.
m, IS. Humidity: a. m, 81; p. m, 80;
p. m. 81.
August s. last year, was quite cool. so
being the maximum, and 50 the minimum
temperature.