The Washington times., 1919-06-29


-rYoULD man take his own life sim
W ply because some girl had criti-
w cised his clothes? Are there
cases of sartorial suicide? In literature
there is at least one record of this. 1t is
in Gorky's play, children of the SUM-"
wherein the hero hangs himself with the
necktie which his sweetheart had ridi-
culed.
OF course, this was in Russia,
where people do many strange
!: :: !: :: :: =: !: :: !"
things; but there is a plausi- -
bility about the tale which leads
one to feel that the drama of
haberdashery was properly mo-
tivated. At any rate, men are
touchy about their appearance; ia
they dread ridicule worse than
they fear being detected in
crime.
1t is commonly supposed that
IL IS the female of the species
which is scrupulous about aes-
thetic appearances, but all
signs point to the fact that the
demurely clad, commonplace
male is the one who has an
eye to correctness of attire. Wo-
men are obviously Indifferent to
the impression they make up
on the optical world; and
there be business in the definition OF woman
as a rag, a bone and hank of hair, it is
plain also that she will wear any kind
of rag, provided, of course, that sufficient
number of her sisters will don the same
bit of artistic outrage. With man, this is
not the case: mans motto is, Love me,
love my toys"
Try this theme in the form of a story.
Let it be the new Kreutzer Sonata with
clothes as the leading motive. Such an
iInpromptu tale might run as follows: The
sonata. trio. eternal triangle begins in the
usual way with the conventional overture.
In the course of time, since love and
murder will out, the duped husband be-
comes disenchanted, but the time for re-
venge is not yet ripe. The plot moves
along a troubled stream, but does not in
undate the stage. Being devoted to his
bride. as was the husband of Anna Kare-
nina. the husband tolerates the triangle,
although not without appropriate anguish.
One evening the artless, irresponsible
wife chances to make the most casual of
comments anent the rivals coat, which
vas a good fit much better one than the
husbands hack can boast. Then the eli
max comes He who can endure being
onn PannOf
dure the clothes contrast, whereupon he
promptly murders his beautiful wife, who
had simply criticised his clothes. Such
story is true-true to life, however unusual
it may sound.
What is the solution of the riddle? Is
# a fact that men have better taste than
women2 If so, can this freakish phenOme-
non be explained?
Viewed outwardly the toilet of woman
is far more impressive than any kind of
male attire; it is sumptuous, superb and
seems to indicate more highly developed
taste. Viewed inwardly. the reverse is the
case: woman's wear has not meaning,
woman has no clothes consciousness no
clothes-cOmpleX.
Woman arrays herself uncOnsCiously as
the almond tree puts forth buds; she
clothes herself like the lily of the field,
although not always with the same artis-
tic results. WOman's garb is put on from
the outside for the sake of immediate inn
preston, just as the impressionist's
colors are laid upon the canvas in defiance
CT definite meaning. The result is strik-
ing, but not significant, as was the case
with the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
That which is wanting is meaning, con-
s:stency, ultimate effect
In mans case the adherence TO staple
STYLES which have proved the tailor's point
is equalled only by the Ethiopian's IN
changeable skin, the leopard's faithful
srots. II man ever blossoms forth in a
new style, it is as though the century
plant were at last in bloom.
Nothing can be more convincing OF mas
cuiine taste and loneliness than mans ad-
herence to styles and seasons. No migra-
tory bird, no farmer is more careful in
watching the calendar Woe unto him
who dons the straw hat before the day has
arrived!
1t is only because the war has upset all