The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1900-12-30

tragedy. 1t is alleged Tinsley had .
wife living in Montana.
Taken as a national index Of character5
dress is the outward sign of a peoples
peculiar genius. Their square, graceless5
scant clothes were as characteristic OF
the Egyptians as their pyramids and
obelisks. The loose, ample robes OF
Asiatics are the natural drapery of q
luxurious temperament. The elegance OF
the ancient Greek costume was the tai-
ment of a race to whom form was more
than color. The LONELINESS Of Saxon
fashions, the rude magnifcence Of Nor=
man barons, the picturesque garh Of the
Scotch clans-indeed, all national cos
tumes-hsye 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. a
More familiar to us Is the cosmicaI
change going on under our own eyes,
change that, as a sign of our era, Is quite
as remarkable as any indicsted-tEe
rapid disappearance Of all national and
class costumes The pretty, suitable
dresses that clothed the peasantry of all
countries are being rapidly Abandoned
and men aud women grow more and more
cosmopolitan In matters of attire. In
every land women now wear the same,
gowns and bonpets, and every respeci2-
BILE man on thebf6Hef IS supposed to&aye
a tweed suit and a derby bat. This
means much more than fashion and YAM
lily. 1t means the grinding to powder "a
the democratic mill Of all sighs and SYM
bols OF slavery, feudalism and mans in
equality. 1t means that men and women
are everywhere throwing off the bondage
Of caste and asserting through their coats
and hats and dresses that one human
being Is Just as good as another.
Now, II dress has such q prcnounH A4
apd 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 COP
lar and cuffs give kind of moral sup.
port and inspire confidence. 4 loose!
careless dress conduces TO loose. eare5
less habit of mind. There is 4 positive
value in the different suits that men
wear, because they are positive help to
the frame of mind necessary for the
occasion.
A suit that is associated with the re-
speet due to the sanctuary is best for
that purpose. There j. a sober, respect
able dress that fits naturally into business
moods; another that seems proper-be-
cause usual-in formal festivities; an
other of loose, easy comfort for domestic
relaxation and rest.
A mans happiness-yea, his success
In far greater measure than is suspect
ed depends upon such auxiliaries. And
1t may be 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 a one at this day, for
in spite Of criticism the male dress Of our
period is sensible and healthy and highly
conducive to comfort and happiness. The
soft hat, the easy coats, the light flannel
garments and soft ties permissible in hot
weather, leave nothing to be desired, es-
pecially as men have generally abandoned
black, the most unhealthy of all colors.
The fundamental theory of clothes,
then, asserts the existence of harmony
between human beings and their artificial
covering, and also harmony between hui
man beings and the work in which they
are occupied or the circumstances in
which they are placed. Will Honeycomb
says that he "can tell the humor a wom-
an is in by the color of her hood" The
saying Is a profound one, and if hus-
bands would make a study Of their wives
ribbons end gowns and toilet peculiarities
they gs1ght avoid many matrimonial blum
deyE i knew once very wise man who
e.ways went softly and considered his
words well when his wife came to the
breakfast table in a certain red shawl. q
have not the slightest doubt that an indi-
vidual observance of this sympathy be-
tween dress and moods would save many
q domestic quarrel and so conduce to
much happiness. - Amelia e. Barr in
Ho-ald.