The Mankato free press., 1909-05-07
GOOD CLOTHES AND THE MAN.

That old saying shat it is not the
clothes that make the man." is not
accepted by those who are experienced
in the ways of the world. Good clothes
certainly are the badge by which men
are recognized in the business and
social worlds. 1t is more often that
the poorly dressed and frayed edged
individual will be made to stand aside
for the man who is garbed in new
and up-to-date raiment though the
former may possess the better quail
ties of the two. So, it is that men
are judged by the clothes they wear
This may be an incorrect way of tax
ing their measure, but it is a habit
that fastened itself upon us, in spite
of the theory that people should be
Judged solely on their merits, regard
less of their apparel.
Those who are seeking to reform
criminals by providing them with new
suits of clothes are proceeding along
lines that are sane and proper, even
II they are bit extreme, but surely
every one must have noticed that
clothes are tonic to everyone and
rightly too, but still more true is the
other side of the question, that the
lack of appropriate clothes is depres-
ing to most people. "Good clothes
increase self respect and self respect
is the foundation of all morality" says
The New York World. 1t is true,
there are gentlemanly imposters and
burglars, but the question is asked,
do men in dress suits ordinarily crack
safes? 1t has been especially notice
able, that as man begins to deteri-
crate socially and go down hill, the
first effects that are visible are at his
eXtremities, such as shoes, gloves and
hat, and this same fact is equally
true of the woman.
How often is the shabby coat collar
or trayed sleeve the sign of more than
mere discouragement, it almost verges
on don't-care-o -ology, which is quite as
serious, so the physicians tell us, as
the real thing in nerve diseases. 1t
has been stated that many a poor
wretch on the verge of a mental or
moral breakdown could be redeemed
through the saving grace of pair of
good shoes new hat or fresh tie.
There is certain amount of pride
in the knowing that ones clothes
are instyle, properly brushed and shoes
whole, all of which are Notifications
against many different kinds of break
downs. Someone has even gone so
far as to say, "score not the dude,
for his clothes may be his saliva
ton" And the same is applicable to
children, they too gain self respect
II clothes are neat, clean and in ac-
cordance with the seasons styles.
1t is often from the teachers, that
we hear of Encouragement, which pre-
vents the progress in learning, when
some forlorn childs clothing is con-
spicuous from its lack of cleanliness,
wholeness or appropriateness. Ex-
treme is the case, but not unheard of,
where the question of good clothes
in the broad sense, has brought a
human being, whose nerves were shat
tered and who apparently cared for
nothing in this world, out from the
dapths of illness and despair, when
everything else had failed.
Until a person is known to another
SO that character can be judged the
external is all that can speak, and in
this way it is good Judgment to pay
all necessary attention to gowning and
grooming especially the extremities, in
order that such tell-tale sights of mis-
sing buttons, rusty shoes and un-
mended glove tips, may not bring
forth any queries as to whether the
person in question is losing his grip
on life.