The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-26
DOROTHY DIX TALKS
Clothes and the Man..
BIZ DOROTHY, DIX
Worlds Highest Paid Woman Writer


That men take SO little trouble in
trying to keep themselves looking
good to their wives proves either that
they are indifferent to what their
wives think of them or else that they
have such colossal vanity that they
believe they are heart smashers no one
can resist, no matter whether they
are clean or dirty. pressed or rum
pied.
Certainly they are aware of the
value that women place on a mans
smart appearance, because one of
their commonest-gib is how easily
women fall for a dude and how they
deride any man who is dressed up like
a tailors dummy.
Men grow sarcastic over women
who judge men by appearance, yet
when all is said, what other measur-
ing stick have we got? The outside
of a man is all that we see and all
that we have to go by. and ninety
nine times out of a hundred it gives
an accurate enough guide to his char
acter.
One thing at least is certain, and
that is slovenliness in man or woman
is a neyed failing indication of lazi-
ness. A man may not have the mon
ey to buy fine clothes, but, under any
ordinary condition of life, he can
keep himself clean. He can shave
He can polish his shoes. He can keep
MS CLOTHES pressed ana Iree from
spots and if he doesn't do this. it
shows that he is too indolent to make
an effort to better the situation in
which he finds himself, and any girl
who is ambitious and energetic is wise
not to tie UP her fortunes with his.
1t is the spick and span man who
keeps himself barbered, his trousers
and sleeves creased. and his necktie
properly adjusted who hustles out and
grabs opportunity by the tail feather
Never the easy going, slovenly slob
who is too tired even to prevent a
clean appearance. If you will look
around at the men whose wives sup
tically every one of them bags at the
knees, needs a hair cut and a closer
acquaintance with a good cleaning
fluid.
Sometimes a man is clean, but he
presents a ridiculous appearance be-
OF clothes. He will wear tan shoes
with an evening suit, a pink necktie
with a purple shirt, or a coat of one
suit, a waistcoat of another, and trou-
sers of third. Or he will let a clerk
sell him a suit of plaids SO loud they
| Shrek his coming a mile off. or one
in which the-sleeves are too short and
the trousers cut for high water
Such man may be the dearest fel-
low on earth. He may be a genius.
but he makes the kind of a husband
whose wife has to look after him as If
he were baby.
He is a man who lacks perception
and judgment. and who is an easy
mark whom anybody can take in and
fool. Such men often make loyabIe
husbands. And they are dead easy to
catch. Anything in petticoats. can
| marry any one of them she wants. but
they never achieve fortune unless thew
| stumble on it thru sheer accident.
IT a girl wants a husband who will
know how to get along in the world,
who will be up and doing. and able
to take care Of his family, let her
marry a man who is what is called In
sartorial circles a classy dresser-one
who keeps up with the times, who sees
| what other men are wearing and
| catches on to the last wrinkle For
| he shows by his clothes that he is en-
ergetic, alert, quick to see, and not
afraid to take a little extra trouble. :.
1t may be true that the clothes do
not make the man. but there are far
worse ways of judging a mans char
| acter than by the way he is dressed
Sloppiness IN dress goes with sIoppi-
ness in character. Shabbiness is an
| indication of lack of energy, for any
body who is willing to work in these
days can dress decently. You can re-
form a man more quickly and give
| him self respect more surely by CIV
! ing him good suit of clothes. and
shoes with square heels on them, than
you can in any other way. You put
grit and backbone into a soldier when
you button him UP in a uniform
That is why women have a right to