Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-02-04

costume. He is far less convention l al in the matter of what he shall wear than is either the Briton or the Frenchman, but he is also far more |cenaervative. Attempts have been made again and again to induce men To adopt colors for evening wear or to look favorably upon this or t1at garment new to their scheme of day light dress, but these attempts in- variably have failed.
 Since fashions do change, however, md these changes are adapted with nore or less uniformity among we'll lressed men in all parts of the coun- ry, it follows that there must be ome court, congress or other law making body to decide what changes hall be accepted in the cut and fla )ric of mems garments from year 10 rear and likewise to froWn down at emptsd innovations that do not 're- ommend themselves as based in ound sense of conforming to the equirements of American tastes and 'onditions There is such a body and t does its work very effectively but 70 quietly that few people outside Of hose who are connected with the business of supplying mems wants the matter of clothes, know even it's existence.
 This body which decides from year 9 year what we are to wear is made p of the tailors of the country, or least of the leading members Of his ancient and honorable profess ion, who are banded together un- CT the name of the National Asso- iation of Merchant Tailors of Amerf- a, with a membership of about one housand. The title sounds formid- ble, and in fact the society does lany things besides determining Ep- Il current styles, it's purpose be- ng to look after the interests of the ailoring craft generally. This, how yer, is the most interesting of it's unctions to the ordinary man.
 , Every year the prominent tailors who are members of this. organization 1old a convention. The next one is o assemble in this city on February B. Che of the features of this con- 1ention is an exhibition of new gar nents 10 which any member of the Organization is permitted to submit ,odying ideas which in his opinion re in any way an improvement upon he existing styles. Some of these costumes are weird and wonderful, md would cause consternatien to the } ordinary man if he were asked to year them. They are carefully eX- smined, however, by committee ehose functions are very much Ike hose of the hanging committee i'll n art exhibition. Those that re- commend themselves as having meri- orious features are mounted on models while others are sent to the sky line" or axe barred ~.'out entire y. This yearly exhibit is carefully inspected by members of the organi- ;ation who often gain from it valu- ebfe ideas for use in their worll. Al utsiders are rigidly barred from see, 'ngI these works of s'artorial art al \ hotgh at it's coming convention the Asspciation has decided to let dowr he {bars to the extent of admitting o it, tailors who are not snembers O. ki heir organization upon payment O.
 fee of ten dollars. The purposA o
 Ais departure is announced to be lesire to improve the general stan-
 lard of American dress by reaching
 IS many men as possible through th'
 ailors of the country even thougi
 many of the latter cannot afford tt belong to the eXclusiye'- association
 The mere admittance of a garmen
 U lue eAlllDltlCli, uOWcNci, uOeo Ho
 mean that it is accepted as good
 'orm or the proper Vyle. The tail
 ITS organizations attends to that mat
 or by appointing another specia eHfmittee to prepare it's offici& ' ashion report. Membership in thi yommittee is naturally esteemed &ligh honor and care is exercised tt velect cQnservative men as well a
 pose who Nccupy a prominent posi-
 on in t,leitfade for this work. Tn
 shion cealnittSSe carefully studie'
 be exhibit of iVw garments. It con Y 4ders past styles, wherein they >,f
 ,Smmend themselves to men who ar ,Articulsr in the matter of dress an
 v3erein they failed of popularity. l
 lcfepts suggestions from other mem
 5eSs of the organization and consid
 ra the subject from every potsibl
 sngle. AS result of these delibera \ ions the fashion committee issues t Fl .epnrt or rather it's repOrts for the