Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-11-20
BRAINS AND CLOTHES.

We have had II impressed upon us
timo and again IN all sorts Of ways
that mans manner of dressing has
great deal to do with his success in
life. Especially is 1t the general be-
lief that young man looking for a
position stands much better show
of consideration from n prospective
employer If his clothes are neat and
up to date and his general appear
ance is described by the convenient
phrase. well groomed." There is a
great deal OF truth In this II looked
at specifically, but II presupposes
that men who hire others are won
derfully susceptible to the power OF
impressions and are not apt to look
deeper to see II there is n real man
under the good clothes. The fact
that man takes no thought for his
personal appearance is prima facie
evidence that he will be careless and
slipshod in other things, but the evil
dence is not conclusive and often
turns out the opposite. Filth can be
nothing else but repulsive. but there
is many Jewel in the rough who.
either because of necessity or because
Of u studious nature, finds no room in
his consciousness for the conventions
of his day and age. 1t is not to be
thought for moment that this
should discourage any man, especial
ly a young man who has his way yet
to hew through the Jungle of life.
from spending sufficient time and
pains on personal appearance; but
the danger of the present age is that
too much emphasis altogether is put
on outside appearances to the disad-
vantage OF developing the real man
underneath. Clothes are only con-
ventions after all. and the man who
puts his dependence on them 10 fool
ing himself. They are good orna-
ments for real worth. but they make
poor substitute for the real article.
Speaking along this line the Guthrie
Leader says:
Young men who are trying to get
ahead seem. nowadays-perhaps 1t
ribly conventional and terribly imi-
tative. They dress, walk, talk, and
act as they believe young men who
get ahead are expected to do. And
perhaps this does. in sense. get
them ahead. The world has plenty
OF room for conventional men who
never say or do anything that they
are not expected to say or do. There
arc good Jobs for them and promi-
nent places in politics and society.
But what a life 1t is, to go through
the world thinking other peoples
thoughts. and doing other peoples
deeds.
The purely conventional, whole
souledly fashionable man contributes
absolutely nothing to the progress of
the world. AS far as he can he
leaves everything. from dress to
morals. exactly where he found It.
only a little shopworn. He never
feels the thrill OF little new idea. all
his own, never thought in quite the
same form by anyone else before. He
never knows the naughty pleasure of
wearing n green tie long after every
one else has taken to blue. In short.
he never lives a life OF his own. He
is only shadow Of somebody else.
There Is more hope for the young
man who docs not surrender his
identity even TO suit the wishes OF
his promoting superior. and who is
original in oven the least OF his hab-
its. II is better to be pointed out as
queer than not to be noticed, or
worth noticing. at all. II is better TO
he distinguished. even by areasc
spot, than TO be a meaningless blur
IN a crowd"