The Delta independent., 1906-12-28
MALE DRESS REFORM
" IS HOPELESSLY hAMpeRED ev THE
STIFF WHITE SHIRT.
III" Way This Garment 1nterferes
With Both Health and Comforv.
Nome Of the Abs1rdities Of the Pres
eat Maseuline Style of Atstre.

With Both Health and C0mforv.
Some Of the A ksu rdities Of the Pres.
est 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
II i 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
verniform 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 II 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 II.
w. may put VI
the discomfort OF the hot summer to
The account Of the starched shirt. 1t
prevents the very process devised by
natur. to keep the body cool-the evap-
Grafton Of sweat. In 50 far as It him
der- thi. natural process in summer
the white shirt favors disease. But In
winter II is fruitful cause Of illneas.
In winter the mere wearing OF
white shirt Would no doubt leave a
man no better and no worse IL he were
content to wear II for his own sat!sfac-
ton Put the curious law OF evolution
come. In and compeis him to wear IT
In such 4 way as to do himself physical
injury.
Wherever evolution IL at work II
leave. extraordinarily. footprints.
Probably 1t Is millions Of years since
the vsrmiform appendix became a use
less organ. but 1t stili survives. All
evolutionary survivals appear to be
harmful. The appendix Is the seat OF
appendicitis. In the inner corner OF
the eve there Is the remnant Of once
useful third lid. which now only lodges
dust and causes irritation.
comfort in ancient drafty legislative
chambers aud now merely serves to
make sensible man look ridiculous
and give him headaches.
People who drew up laws were lonS
az" paid according TO the number Of
words. but the multiplicity Of words
now only causes confusion. So the
white shirt that was once badge OF
wealth and culture. being no longer OF
value for that purpose. IL only cause
OF discomfort and disease.
II Is necessary to cut piece out Of
the vest and the coat, just over the
most important organs OF the body. in
order 10 prove 10 our nciGhbors that
We wear white shirts. Consequently
in the winter time we expose the lungs
and the air passages 10 the cold wind
and the cold rain.
From the point Of view Of health
nothing could he more stupid. Br"n-
chitis IL one OF the most deadly of all
diseases In this country. Bronchitis IL
simply Inflammation OF the bronchial
tubes. This Inflammation is excited
by a chill a chilling of that part OF
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 80 many deaths.
perhaps lO.UU year.
And does 1t really improve a mans
appearance: by virtue OF the associs-
tion Of Ideas II certainly does. Usual
~ men who do not wear white shirts
are not given to cleanliness. The man
who wears a white shirt washes his
FACE and hands and brushes his clothes:
hence when We see white front and
white cuffs we experience that pleas
ant sensation produced by general
neatnees Of the person and clothing.
But that q few square Inches OF white
clothing over the chest makes a man
look better 10 an absurd conclusion.
The case for the white shirt has not
n leg to stand upon. The garment 10
uncomfortable. unbsalthy and unbe-
coming. And - II has lost the only
usefui function II ever p,ss-esscd-th that
is,s its aymtolism Of exceptional wealth
we ought TO discard II altogether.
The difiiculties Of this course are very
great no do6't What We want IL An
"antiwhitc shirt society" which would
sgvcc 10 wear. from some pr"arranSed
date. a dress designed wholly with re-
gard for comfort. health and beauty
T. +. Manning In London Gossip.