The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-19
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 Ward uses on dress occasions? IT not you must be what is called a "shut-in," for no one who has ever seen him at public function during the past thing else.
 Why, his honor without his famous hat would be as weak and ineffective as was Samson when the wicked Delilah robbed him of his locks. q wonder if this is why George remains single2 Is it that he fears his wife will confscate his beloved chapeauD
 George Wards hat is nearly as fla nous, and as much of an heirloom, so far as the city of Birmingham is con- cerned, as is the renowned hat of that other George who was the Father of his Country. All Americans take pride in Washington's beaver, just as all Bir- mingham takes pride in Georges.
 You may think that a hat makes no difference, but any one who ever saw the gifted Mansfield in Beau Brummell
  ried his hat, and what distinction it gave him among the beaux of his day. So let's take George and his hat seri- ously.
 There are some people who contend that clothes do not make the man. Possibly so. but they have whole lot to do with his success in life, and to be we'll dressed is no sin, but rather sign of breeding and distinction.
 Now, am not going to write trea- tise on the psychology of dress. Neither am I going to elaborate on Carlyles philosophy of old clothes, but as sure as you live 1t is uncomfortable to be at public function and find that ones clothes is what the French call outre. I know an unusually well balanced busi- ness man who lost his appetite at ban quet because he was the only one pres ent wearing a Tuxedo. while all the others had on their swallow tails
 
 I know just how he felt, for the other night I wore a turn-down collar with full evening dress q hate a standing collar). At the table where I sat all had on least bit uncomfortable, and when I looked around at the tables surrounding me and not turned-down collar in sight I began to f1dget and I was sure every one was saying in his heart, Look at the country jay"
 I lost all interest in the conversion; the soup got cold and tasteless, the chick en was overdone, the salad was wilted. The joy had gone out of my life, but l happened to look at the speakers table, where the millionaires sat, and every mothers son of them had on turned down collar, and then I perked up and looked down with pitying eye upon the men who were wearing standing collars.
 Now. you say, how silly. Of course, it's silly, but thre is moral satisfac ton which comes both to men and to women when they meet at social func- tion and are conscious that they are fashionably and correctly clothed. I hear you say that such thoughts may govern 
 and care for such trifles, nut that gen. sible folk are above such petty triviali- ties. Are you so sure?
 Do you know what the great Marconi was troubled about? It seemed to be much more on his mind than a way to put the submarines out of business. The reception committee, with black frock coats and stovepipe hats, had made him conscious that he was garbed in light business suit, and he felt outclassed. When he got a glimpse of w. Blanks Everett in his cutaway, light spats, and silk hat, and kid gloves, it was too much for him, and he admitted it.
 In an apologetic tone he said to me, You must excuse my not being dressed in @ black coat, but I was told 1t was to be an informal affair, and besides, l was warned that the temperature would range from 100 to no degrees, and as my dark coat is rather heavy. forebore to wear it, and I am afraid I will look out of place at the dinner and the re- ception"
 But Senator Marconi wasn't the only one that W. Blanks Everett's costume de rigeur fooled, for many local Italians, seeing him in all hss splender, jumped to the conclusion that the prince had sufficiently recovered to come to Birming- ham and was giving them a surprise and an unexpected pleasure. So many rushed up to Blanks as he led the way from the private car through the station and saluaed him as royalty and gave him their braves.
 It took me sometime to assure MT. Marconi that his clothes would not at- tract any unfavorable comment, and that, as matter of fact, every one of the silk hats of the reception commit I tee were borrowed or rented with the sole exception of the one worn by his honor the mayor, MT. George B. Ward, and that it wasn't hat but a part of the citys regalia used by him to im- press important visitors.
 ! I found out that Senator Marconi un- | derstood English perfectly, and what was more surprising, that he had a keen sense of humor and enjoyed joke. | So I told him that when Gen. Leonard Wood was here Paul Stevenson, g news