Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-13
MALE DRESS REFORM
,lr ls44oPELEssLY HAMPERED BY the
STIFF WHITE SHIRT. j zys


IS STIFF WHITE SHIRT. .. %ye5.z
The Way This Garment Interferes
With Both Health and Comfort
Some of the Absurdities of the Pres-
emit Masculine Style of Attire.
The necessity by which men feel co
creed Of proving to the world that they
wear white shirts lies at the basis Of
all the difficulties of The dress problem.
Until the garment becomes extinct
it Is hopeless to attempt the reform Of
mems dress ON the lines Of health and
comfort. '"
1t will of course ultimately disap-
pear, for it is but the mark of stage
in the evolution of dress, just as the
vermiform appendix is a useless evolu-
tionary remnant in the body. But the
question is whether we ought to await
the slow course of evolution or to use
our common sense and abandon the
ancient garment at once.
Why do we wear white shirts? Ages
ago 1t was only the wealthy who could
afford to clothe themselves In linen.
The possession Of linen underwear was
then a mark Of social position, and
there was an obvious advantage in
making public display OF 1t. -"
We may put down three-fourths Of
the discomfort of the hot summer to
the account Of the starched shirt. 1t
prevents the very process devised by
nature to keep the body cool-the evap-
grafton of sweat. In SO far as 1t him
ders this natural process in summer,
the white shirt favors disease. But in
winter it Is fruitful cause Of illness.
In winter the mere wearing of a
white shirt would no doubt leave a
man no better and no worse IL he were
content to wear it for his own satisfac-
ton. But the curious law Of evolution
comes in and compels him TO wear it
in such way as to do himself physical
injury. ~
Wherever evolution is at work it
leaves vestiges-literally, footprints.
Probably 1t is millions Of years since
the vermifarm appendix became use
less organ, but it stiH survives. All
evolutionary suryivals appear to be
harmful. The appendix is the. seat OF
appendicitis. In the inner corner Of
the eye there is the remnant of a once
useful third lid, which now only lodges
dust and causes irritation.
The lord chancellor's wig was once q
comfort In ancient drafty legislative
chambers and now merely serves to
make q sensible man look ridiculous
and give him headaches. ~
/ People who drew up laws we're long
ago paid according to the number Of
words, but the multiplicity OF words
now only causes confusion. SO the
white shirt that was once a badge Of
wealth and culture. being no 1onger Of
value for that purpose, Is only a cause
Of discomfort and disease.
tits necessary to cut q piece ont Of
the svest and the coat, just soyer the
most Important organs Of the body, in
Urder to prove to cur neighbors that
we wear white shirts. Consequently
IN the winter time we expose the lungs
gands the air passages to the cold wind
and the cold rain. -,
From the point OF view OF health
nothing could be more stupid. Bron-
ehitis Is one Of the most deadly Of all
diseases In this country. Bronchitis Is
simply Inflammation Of the bronchial
tribes. This inflammation is excited
by q chill, chilling of that part Of
the body left exposed in order to show
that we wear white shirts. # -
The white shirt, in fact, might ap-
pear in the tables of the registrar gen.
eral as the cause Of so many deaths.
perhaps 100000 year.
And does 1t really improve a mans
appearance? By virtue of the associa-
ton Of ideas it certainly does. Usual
~ men who do not wear white shirts
are not given to cleanliness. The man
who wears a white shirt washes his
faca and hands and brushes his clothes;
hence when we see Awhile fEout and
white cults zwsn that spleaa
ant sensation. produced by generds
neatness Of the person and nlothing.
But that q few Square inches of white
clothing over the chest makes man
look better is an absurd conclusion. sl
The case for the white shirt has not
a leg to stand upon. The garment ID
| uncomfortable, unhealthy and lnbe.
coming. And as It has lost the only
useful function II ever possessed that
b. it's symbolism of exeeptionai wealth
we ought to discard It altogether.
The difficulties Of this course are very
great no doubt. What we want III an
eantiwhits shirt socisty.'' which would
agree to wear. from some preasranged
data, 4 drsss designed wholly with re-.
gard tor comfort health and beauty
4. 3. Manning In London Gossip.
| MsktaE Love UP Trss. het'
Billing and cooling among the gijians
h q curious feature IN their social Gus
ponns. II II decidedly against the rule
1 b Dc any counting within doors. Tho
gardens, or plantat1ons are tho spots
q half AaHfN6 In Ns7r,fd ard tho Oo,n nsraIyx