The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1903-04-15
THE FIRST TAILOR.
HE MONOPOLlZED THE SARTORIAL
TRADE OF THE WORLD.
His Methods Were Crude, and His
Materials We're Rather Grotesque,
but He Turned Out Good, Honest
Work, Hand Stitched Throughout.

but He Turned Out Good, Honest
Work, Hand Stitched Throughout.
The first industry Of the world was
tailoring. The first maker of clothes
and the first wearer was Adam. OF
this strange character who appears on
the pages Of history in the dual role of
the first tailor and the first customer
we have but brief biography. The
meager details require sympathetic in
depreciation to make up a complete
story. Of his father and mother no
mention is made. but the record shows
he was destined to be a clothier Of
some sort, for he was put into Eden to
dress" the garden. We do not know
if he obeyed this command, as his
biographerS do not so state, for, it
seems, instead of dressing the gar
den he dressed" himself.
His early marriage and the trouble
relating to the theft of some fruit with
sundry other unpleasant details pre-
ceded his work as tailor. He began
in a humble way; just himself and
one assistant. He was one of the early
settlers in a newly opened country, a
land Of natural advantages which must
soon attract other inhabitants. With
large and increasing population he
foresaw that there must come q grow
ing demand for clothing if he could in
troduce them and make popular his
new invention. He was pioneer He
had no competition. He controlled the
tailoring trade Of the world. Thus
with the first industry came the first
trust.
AS he busily piled his needle we
know not what visions Of future busi-
ness and wealth filled his ambitious
mind. But never in his widest dreams
did he conceive that his little tailoring
establishment, employing only four
hands, doing only local trade and
turning out the first custom made gar
went, would be the beginning Of a
ready made clothing business that in
the United States alone gives labor to
hundreds Of thousands Of hands and
covers an investment Of great many
million dollars.
But Of the great wealth that has
come from his invention Adam, like
most pioneers, made no money what
ever and died leaving his family with
out penny. Even his name is not as
sociated with his wonderful discovery,
but-such is the sarcasm Of time-it ap-
pears only in the word Adams apple,
in memory not of his virtues, but Of an
escapade of his wife.
Though even Carlyle has not recog-
nized Adams sartorial genius, there
are some capital points in the work of
this first tailor.
He originated the style himself. He
was not a petty trader on the reputa-
ton of others and initiating their fash
ions. Even in the names for the gar
ments he was original. The first suit
of clothes, in reality only girdle or
belt, he humorously termed an "apron."
1t IS difficult to determine the season
of the year. Judging from the GOODNESS
Of the suit, it might have been a sum-
mer style, but as it was just little
after the fall it was probably early in
the winter.
They were hand stitched throughout.
They contained no machine work or
cheap labor. The workshop was in the
open air. and, although tailored in the
sweat of his brow, no sweatshop work
was possible.
The material was not Of the best, but
Adam found no better at hand. Some
Of the modern tailors, making shoddy
garments Mt shoddy prices, initiate
Adam, who used "leavings."
AS to Adam, the first customer, when
he was alone in the world he never
thought of dress. but when he came to
the realization of himself as an indi-
vidual and in relation to others he be-
gan to spruce up. Courtship led him
to beautify himself. to appear well IN
the eyes of "the only woman he ever
loved" Human nature has not changed
much.
With the entry Of society dress be-
gan. tcrudpS lulS ID w Iy uiSS" AOAiAA
so prominent a feature in society to-
day.
After eating the apple Of knowledge
the mind of Adam was suddenly lllu-
minated as if by thousand electric
lights. \ great thought Of large, prac-
tical, worldly wisdom flashed before
him. He realized that to amount to
anything in the world he must make
good appearance. In this he struck
keynote Of business success.
Surely he needed to keep up appear
ances. He reflected over his actions
for the two weeks prior and then
looked at his future He had been in
bad society and had been seen with
disreputable serpent, he had been led
into temptation. he had broken the law
he was implicated in an apple theft as
accessory after the fact, he had soma
of the stolen goods in his possession
and he was a fugitive from justice, for
he was then in "hiding.". Discovery
was certain. He was to be evlcted
from his home and in disgrace had to
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