The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-10
PHILOSOPHY OF CLOTHES
F. ADDINGTON BRUCE SAYS
 THERE
Is TangIs in Ethic. of "sar,Ur Re-
 sartus."


 sartus.''
 gave utterance to the phrase "The tail- or makes the man," and it was long be- fore the true inwardness of this re- mark percolated the brain matter of that philosophers fellow beings. In due course of time, however, one of them, by name Thomas Carlyle, was impressee by the immensity of the thought, and forthwith sat him down and indited a voluminous essay on clothes and tailors, giving the essay to an eager public, to the end that the ea- ger public should only be further mys- titled and perplexed. "Sartor Resar- tus," as the essay was styled, contained much that was brilliant, albeit some what mystical. But "Sartor Resartus" left good deal unsaid, and some day another philosopher will be born to ex-, pound still further on the weighty sub- ject of clothing. . i That clothes have their ethics cannot be denied, but truth compels one to ac- knowledge that these ethics are terri bly, tangled. For instance, we see se- date looking gentleman. whose habili- ment is not of the latest cut nor of the newest material, and at once we are constrained to say; There is man whom Dame Fortune has not treated kindly :s &t5%a This is the natural inference, and pro- ceeding from it we are often led into the grievous error of saying or doing some- thing that may offend the man. Now experience should teach us, if other evil dence than that of the mans clothes is not worthcofning, that the one we may sheer at may be multimillionaires There have been rich men in the world, and there are rich men in it yet who delight in hiding their light under a bushel so to speak. Unless a legisla- ture passes a law compelling men to dress in accordance with their circum- stances, we will be left as much in the dark as ever, if our only criterion is the cut of their garb.; @
 Consider now what would be the ef- feet of such law. We would naturally find the humble laborer going to his days toll in the plainest of homespun. The beggar, without work and without a home, would fittingly don sackcloth and ashes from gray would be the color of the miners dress. Checks would suit the business man, the size of the checks being proportioned to the height of his rating. The naughty bank clerk would have to dress in suits of we'll figured patters. The newspaper man or author woull of course wear black and white. A coat of many colors would be ex- tremely appropriate to the politician. The promoter would be compelled to ar ray himself in broadcloth, as typical of his smooth manner of doing business. For the artist we would find raiment of we'll blended hues. The saloonkeeper must display himself in dark brown clothes, as indicative of the taste of his wares. The poet would be forced to wear spring suits at all seasons. Green would be the color of a critics apparel. Finally, millionaires would have to promenade in cloth of gold.
 Reflect, however, how terrible would be the consequences were such distin- gushing marks given to every man. Robbers and cutthroats would lie in wait only for men dressed in cloth of gold. Editors would recognize a poet the moment he entered the sanctunl, and the unlucky songsteF would be giv- en short shrift. Indignant actors and authors would slit the throat of every man they caught in green suit. Gen- tlefnen in broadcloth would be avoided like poison by gentlemen in checks. The wearers of black and white would be easily dodged by those whom they sought to interview. Dark brown suits would never dare to go to church. Politicians would have a terribly hard time of it with officeseekers. Beggars would have no chance at all. In fact, the whole universe would be over turned.
 As it is, there are certain distinguish ing marks in the clothing of some men which infallibly betray their calling or characteristics. Do conceited men ever wear boots that don't squeak Would a miser wear necktie if he could grow g. beard? Do undertakers wear other than black from head to foot? Did one ever behold a bank clerk whose collars were less than three inches high? Do actors ever take their morning walk along the RiaIto without silk hat and tan boots? Do musicians ever buy oth- CT than velvet coats? Can golf play CT be found without a red necktie? Just think a bit about it.-F. .Addington Bruce in the New York Times.