The Indianapolis journal., 1904-01-08
DECLARES ALL ARE TIED
BY FASHIONS SHACKLES
Everybody Bound Down by Some
Fad, Says Prof. G. E. Vincent,
of Chicago University.
IMPRESSIONS ARE LEFT

CHICAGO, Jan. 7.-Fashion helps to pre-
vent social insanity.
The large demand created by epidenics Of
fashion lowers prices.
Some influence remains as a memorial TO
every fashion.
Contagion of fashion makes for national
unity.
To ignore fashion is to declare oneself
an outcast.
These are some of the things Prof George
E. Vincent said in an address on "Fads
and Fashions" before the Isaiah woman's
Club, of this city. He declared, further.
that every one is bound in fashions
shackles; neither man nor woman is free"
Men who are Indifferent to fashion in
clothes" he said, ARE victims of fashion
in something else"
In order not to make the women too
prominent in his picture of fashions serv-
itors, Professor Vincent characterized
George Washington's fastidiousness as "a
punctilio."
Not to be too fiattering TO fashion, the
lecturer described the evolution of the dress
sleeve from the short puffed sleeve OF 1907
until it attained 'the size of dress skirt"
and through its changes 10 the style that
now IS prevailing.
1T is tentative psychological theory"
he declared, that only certain amount OF
energy can be used and that this is dis
tributed in such way that what Is lost in
one direction is made UP in another. This
seems true of fashion. When all the en-
ergy was expended in hustle and crinolne
the sleeves suffered. When the sleeves
swelled the hustle and the crinoline dis
appeared. The sleeve now has started on
another mad career. and man nor
woman can tell where it will end
DEPARTED FADS a TOPIC
Professor Vincent soon abandoned the
dress question and talked of fads and fash
ions of all kinds. To show that they have
lived and died he named the following
among the departed:
Croquet, Painted dustpans
The Bicycle, Painted rolling pins,
T1ddledewinks, Blue-glasS treatment.
Pigs in the clover, Pingpong.
Tennis.
Over these the lecturer inscribed the fol-
lowing epitaph:
They have all left their influence
Among the living fads he named:
Putting and lofting golf balls.
The high modish handshake.
The Gibson craze I'm art.
The automobile.
Appendicitis
"All Of you," urged Professor Vincent,
probably have experienced the humiliation
of trying To shake hands with some mOdish
person, who places the hand at an impoS-
sible position and waits for you TO find it.
Congress had enacted a law requiring all
railroads to make their train couplers the
same altitude. Congress would do an excel
lent thing If it would fix the height at which
persons should shake hands"
The changes in architectural fashions
were dwelt upon by the speaker, who char
acterized Michigan avenue as "a museum
OF architecture, from frame cottage built
Immediately after the fire, to the French
chateau of the millionaire" AS an example
Of the slavery TO fads, Professor Vincent
pointed to the rise and fall OF the bicycle.
SOURCE OF NOTIONS.
eve pick up our notions" explained Prof
Vincent, 'fn various ways. We get opin-
ions from others-from strong personalities.
We assimilate their ideas and accept them
as authority. If we know a man to be
well-dressed by reputation, we observe his
dress. regard him an authority. and i'm
itate him. 1t is the same with everything
as ii is with dress"
The lecturer divided imitation into two
classes. 'reverential imitation" 10 express
devotion for a leader. and competitive i'm
itation," expressed in social rivalry. AS
an example, he pointed out the woman in
society in prodigality. THAT sort has
reached such an exaggerated form among
savages." declared the speaker, that par
ents kill their daughters in babyhood to
save her wedding expenses"
Prof. Vincent urged every one TO seek the
company OF superiOrs rather than of in
feriOrs.
ITO admit inferiority Is one of the most
disagreeable necessities" he declared, but
it must be done il you are TO improve your
self. IT is the sense of inferiority that
spurs US on"