The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-27
Inconsistency in Matters of
Dress Leaves Them Without
Guiding Star.

BY Ia MARaUISE DE FONTEHoY.
IT HE puzzled state Of mind OF thos:
raTiaIea IA; candles wh n so, so g p4Ssc
OF Wales with the idea IF taking
him as their model OF the pink OF
fashion and mold of FORM is decid-
eddy amusing to thos. who know any
and how unlikely he is 10 pose as
Beau Brummel. or strive to become
second edition of his grandfather as
regards the Parisiana. Clos. observ-
Prince of Wales noticed that his coat.
when ne arrived in Paris. was but
toned at the third button only, the
two buttons being unemployed. thus
showing a large eXpans. OF shIrt-front
and the upper part of the waistcoat
Promptly they rushed of TO their
tailors TO have their attire modified TO
correspond. Their next view showed
them, 10 their great chargin. that the
young man had reversed the style.
This time the top button was employed,
the other two possessing slnecurc.
His Inconsistency in this weiGhty mat
ter appears 10 have icf this observers
without d guiding star. But the prince
seems TO be sensible youth, and not
10 care a button about the matter.
Possibly ne has taken a lesson from
his grandfather. Edward VII, when
Prince of Wales. who made several
attempts to modify the dress of his
masculine future lieEcs, not one OF
which. il my memory serves me Alright
was successful. although in more i'm
portant and weiEhty matters he was
anlc to accomplish an enormous amount
Of good for his country, and render
services Of infinite value
This benehcent influence he began
TO exercise when shortly after ms
marriage he Was Entrusted by his
widowed and grief stricken mother
with The tasR of representing the
crown in its relations with society
a, home and abroad. Among the many
fruits OF his example are the diminu-
ton of drunkenness upon which he
placed his ban. 1t became no longer
the example OF the classes, so that
a drunkard began TO be desp!5ed and
regarded with contempt, and intem-
perance to be considered bad form"
officer who from principle declined to
drink with wine the health Of the
sovereign at dinner was considered
sighiy Of d dsi a S Wan h ' Eaward
VII. assembled the throne he notified
the officers of his navy that they need
feel under no obligation whatever to
drink his health in spirituous liquors:
that h, would feel just as highly h1n-
ored and pleased II they used mineral
water or any other temperance bcv-
eragc for the purpose.
Moreover. he caused swearing and
coarse language to go out OF fashion.
1t became no longer necessary TO en-
phasize positive statement with
understanding oath, or to be consid
cred millssop. In numberisss other
ways he led the people in the right
direction. not the least of which was
his habit of regular church going on
sundays. although he never posed as
a saint. But when il came 70 sump-
tuary matters. that is TO say. fashions
In mems dress and personal adornment
his flock became unruly and bolted in
the opposite direction.
The most notable instance of this
That can remember concerned the
SIR hat The popularity of this i'm
posing form of masculine head gear
and the United States, but all over the
world, and tn, manufacturers and arti-
sans were in despair, nine-tenths OF
the tn, demand :, for their wares having
to appeals from the principal repre-
sentativas of this industry in France
and England sought to revive the
vogue OF the silk hat by wearing it
For a time he made a practise of send
ing eQuerries to the principal smart
clubs. the marlborough, the Turf and
others. on the mornings OF race days.
as a hin; that he himself would don
ons, and that ii would please him to
see the members all similarly tiled.
But his wishes were entirely ign red.
his kindly cNcrtions in despair and
took to wearing a derby at few
race meets. that these clubmen, appar-
emily by way OF showing their indie
pendence in sumptuary questions
turned up in the newest and most
resplendent of 'toppers."
ON anothar occasi on Edward made
an attempt to intr oduce a compromise
between the silk hat and the derby,
hut ! never heard of anybody wear,
Ing one except the prince himself
] saw one exhibited in shop window
on Pccadilly as curiosity apparent
ly. 1t did not seem to tempt any one
TO go in and buy. In short | cannot
recall having heard of any fashion in
such minor matter as masculine at
tire that Edward VII. succeeded in in
Producing in England at any rate.
rather amusing that Paris Parisians s 1egIS
look to his grandson for Inspiration.
The appointment Of Miss Clothilde
Luisi az n full-nedged minister pleni-
potentiary to the court of Brussels to
officially represent the republic OF
Uruguay has naturally caused a good
deal OF sensation among the diplo-
mats. who will feel disposed to treat
this pretty young girl with great
deal more consideration than the rep
representatives. Of some OF the South
American republics are In the habit
OF receiving. Miss Luisi Is entitled
to the prefix of "Dr." to her name, as
she has taken a degree at the Univer-
sity Of Montevideo. It mny turn out
that Uruguay has dono n worry shrSwd
thing in making this appointment, and
] ree no reason why tho lady should
not mako an excellent, minister pieni-