The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-30
bRAG IS
TAKEN DOWN BY
THE STATISTICS

London newspapers have recently been
devoting considerable space 10 the dis
cussion OF the question az 10 which is the
better dressed people the English or the
Americans. This discussion has pushed
the subject-matter from It's dettante
sphere into statistics by the publication
OF the following statement OF "a leading
West end tailor" I'm the London Mail
mo Englishman orders his clothes from
America. Few Americans who can AFFORD
II and who prize style, quality. and it
order their clothes anywhere else but In
London. The very existence OF some OF
our most famous firms In West London
depends upon this American custom. The
cultured American is probably as well
dressed In all respects as any man In
Europe; but In saying that we are only
paying ourselves a compliment. for al
most without exception the clothes come
from London"
1t is evident that this question has a
more practical and substantial basis than
the mere matter az 10 which is the better
dressed people-the creation OF a public
opinion I'm the United States that English
made clothing is worn by all fashionable
Americans. for our British friends are un-
der the impression that IL they can clothe
fashionable Americans, who can afford
the luxury OF British apparel they will
thereby create a public opinion which
will result In enlargement OF their trade.
The statement OF the leading West end
tailor carries It's own refutation. II
Americans who can afford II and who
prize style. quality, and ft" ordered their
clothes In London there would not be
tailors enough I'm that city to supply the
American demand, for Il Is no exaggera-
tion TO say that there are more people
In the United States who can afford good
clothes" and who wear good clothes than
In all Europe, whore. as a rule. outside the
privileged classes, there are comparative
ly few persons who can afford fine
clothes, or who aim 70 be well dressed.
according 10 the West end" estimate
The danger In all such assumptions OF
superiority as that OF the West end tai
Tor Is that people in general are apt 10
accept the trumpeters at their own high
estimate. To counteraot such trade
clacks. as well as to show American
clothiers where they may expect 70 find
foreign markets for their surplus prod
ucts. tabular statements have been pre-
pared at Washington covering the ex-
ports OF British apparel TO the several
countries during 1905
The table shows that the value Of all
descriptions OF wearing apparel exported
In 1905 from Great Britain was s23 224-
800 Of which only s275 900 came to the
United States.
Up to and including the year 1903
'ii'iNh ohitldl publlcdliouh enlefeI the
exports OF clothing under the head OF
Apparel and sops" Although the
word "sleps was dropped at that time
more than nine-tenths of the apparel ex-
ported In 1905 were "slops" cheap ready
made clothing suitable for the South Afri-
can. Australasian. Canadian. Indian and
West African trade. and very little Of
the remaining one-ninth was exported
because of its style, fit, and superior
ity"
II may safely be assumed that the ex-
ports OF British clothing OF wool and
wool mixed with other materials are
those referred TO By the West End tailor
In the London Mail as composing the
clothing OF "all well dressed Americans
who order their clothes nowhere else than
In London" AS these well dressed
Americans" are preceded In the we'll
dressed international procession by South
Africans. Australasians. Canadians Brit
sh Indians observation-disclosures. Frencr.
Germans. East Africans. Belgians Chill
cans, Dutch, and Egyptians, they cut
very poor, even II very select figure.
The fact that the British clothing trade
with the United States can hardly be
called even a nominal trade, and II that
skful West End tailor had only substi
tuted British South Africans. Austria
lans. and West Africans for Americans.
when he says that "the very existence
Of some of our firms in the West End
depends upon this American custom he
would be standing on indisputable ground
but II is not easy 70 see how their ex-
istence depends upon 'well-dressed
Americans" who do not wear London
West End clothes