Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10

a man can pay the price he can order
suit of clothes from them and then swagger
among his friends, boasting that he has
been rugged out by the kings tailors. IL
they traded on the kings name that way
they would not be the kings tailors long.
They are aristocrats OF the tailor world.
They serve only customers whose social
status is vouched for by clients already on
their books. This applies as much to visit
from the "moneyed' side of the At
lantic as from this. And even their own
customers are not permitted to see the gar
ments they made for the king. They can't
get tips in advance coming fashions that
way. They must wait their chance to see
them on the sacred person of his majesty.
The kings clothes are all made In a room
especially set apart for that purpose
His tailors have standing order to pro-
vide him with so many suits for spring.
many for summer, and SO on for the other
seasons. Apart from military uniforms and
court dresses, they number about 100 suits
year, and cost anything between $50 and
800 suit. The king selects the patterns
and material himself. In these matters he
is exceedingly particular, but his choice Is
quickly rlade.
while other men will spend half an hour
In choosing a pattern for a pair of trous-
ers,' says one of his tailors, "the king will
select a dozen in as many minutes. and In
each selection will show the most faultless
taste. 1 have frequently waited on him by
appointment. and can truly say that /
have never been detained more than ten
minutes or quarter Of an hour. although
in that short time he may choose patterns
for perhaps a couple of hundred pounds
worth of clothes.
His punctuality is something amazing.
Eleven o'clock In the morning is always
the time appointed for his sartorial engage
ments. and invariably on the stroke OF the
sent to wait for him. and after a cheerful
Good morning he gets to work in the
most businesslike way imaginable. l have
never known him to be a minute late.
Once, indeed, II was just two minutes after
IL by my watch when he made his APP
pearance and / thought that for once ]
had caught his majesty mapping, but
found out afterward that 1T was my watch
that was at fault Occasionally. as he
chooses first one pattern and then another.
he will do me the honor Of consulting me.
Don't you think this will make up well.
Mr.. - or This Is a pretty cloth. don't
you think sor and 1t Is by means out
OF politeness that indorse his choice for
II is always unimpeachable. The simpler
his clothes are the better he likes them,
and of all of them he prefers his yachting
suits OF blue serge or a quiet tweed suit
while to frock coats or evening suits he Is
by no means partial"
Considering how extensive has been the
kings experience in the matter of chang
ing his clothes. one can well believe this
same authority when he states that the
king Is a rapid dresser and can get out of
or into his clothes In remarkably quick
time. Indeed. of all the customers I have
ever had, not one has displayed such dex-
terity in this way as the king
King Edwards military uniforms and
diplomatic outfits constitute the most ex-
pensiye and extensive portion of his ward
robe. The gold lace on a single uniform
often costs from $500 to $500. Highly paid
experts alone are employed on work OF this
sort. and 1t frequently takes four men as
much as a whole week to make up a single
tunic- The honorary commands that are
bestowed on the king cost their donors
nothing. but 1t costs the king mint of