Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-30
SUMMER CLOTHING.
Raiment Best Adapted for Comfort
in Hot Weather.


in Hot Weather.
From the New York Herald
The question OF keeping cool and guard
ing against the discomforts OF warm
weather is mostly narrowed nowadays to
the ACCESSIBILITY OF the cabmen wearing
straw hat while on duty. And pray why
notY On his outside seat he is constantly
exposed to the suns rays, and he should at
least have as much Of a chance Tor protec-
ton as the ordinary dray horse. who en-
joys a similar covering buttoned over his
ears. Alas! like the private coachman, his
more aristocratic brother, he must suffer
the penalty of conventionalism and style
Why not also inveigh against his dark
clothes, close-fitting coat and other acces-
sor1es? All such objections are sensible
enough when applied to the free and indie
pendent citizen, who can boldly adapt him
self to the exigencies of his changing en-
vironment.
The hat, after all, is only small part of
the summer clothing. Merely a cool head
and a hot and perspiring body is an exas-
perating incongruity of opposing conditions.
When We think OF Il, the hat is the small
est part for consideration, as, unlike cloth
ing, 1t can be entirely dispensed with at
times without overly offending the higher
esthetic sensibilities
AS to bodily covering for hot weather.
there is no choice but to reduce 1t to the
Fortunately instinct helps us very much
In such regard, but a study of summer
CARDS abundantly proves that we have not
yet reached the acme of comfort and health
fulness in very many particulars.
There are certain rules for the selection
OF proper materials that are not often prop
erly appreciated The main reason for this
is that the methods of warming or cooling
the body by appropriate clothing are not
generally understood. In cold weather for
instance, the unprotected body loses its
heat, and in warm weather, in a general
way, 1t retains it. being in the latter In
stance hindered more or less by the heat
and humidity of the atmosphere.
To maintain the normal temperature or
the body we have invented clothing of all
sorts. The choice, however, depends upon
the intelligence and good sense OF the
wearer. Science has helped us much by
giving us the reasons why. Let us look into
some of these and by applying them to our
needs take what comfort we can.
The main objects of all summer clothing
are to favor the rapid evaporation OF bodily
heat and at the same time to repel the
direct rays of the sun. Various fabrics dlf-
fer in fulfilling such requirements. Texture
and color have also a great deal 10 do with
the results. White absorbs the heat least
and reflects 1t most. Then come the various
colors as modifying inuences in their due
turn-yellow, red. green, blue and black.
As to fabric, the outer garments are best
made of cotton or linen, the Inner OF light
and wide meshed wool. When wool irri-
tates the skin cotton or linen is a second
choice. Another advantage OF wooden I'M
dergarments Is that they can be worn or
different weights In all seasons. For obVl-
Gus reasons, then, the first change from
heavy to light clothing should be in the
outer garments, more particularly as they
can be more readily adapted to our fire.
quent changes of climate, even during the
summer months.
Perspiration, disagreeable as it IS when
excessive, Is only one OF natures cooling
processes. The aim of all light clothing Is
to give the evaporation the freest possible
vent though suitable airy textures. In
certain sense we can get as enectual
breathing through our skin as through our
lungs at least so far as balancing many
of the more important functions of heat
equilibrium In this respect we have the
great advantage over the canine tribe IN
Changing our coats and not depending on
the forced draught Of painting respiratory
mo