The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-11
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 In East Yorkshire, Eng, it's the GUS tom for young people of both sexes to go to the nearest market town to buy some new article Of dress or personal ornament, as otherwise they believe that birds-notably rocks or crows-will spoil their clothes.
 Now if we could dblve deep enough into the custom of men and women wanting to wear their best Jn Easter Sunday we would discover it td be based on most reasonable psycholo4ical basis, for when all nature is putting on gorgeous apparel the thought naturally comes why not Iol- low in her wake
 But this is not to be the phlosophy of clothes for one Thomas Carlyle has already done the sh object ample justice in Sartor Resartus but l will say thal while clothes do not make the man, yet if he is A sensible fellow he will feel all the better if the garments he wears are in keeping with his station in life It ts no longer a crime or matter of effemi- nancy for man to De well ofessS0'
 
 know that from time immemorial the dandy and the dude have come III lor great amount of ridcule, but to me the story of Beau Brummell is always Of interest, and I never miss the chalee ol seeing it staged. It grips me rom tne time of his prosperity when he is the cynosure of all eyes until he goes out into the great beyond from a garrett
 
 Take the case of the dude. We have not spared to pile obloquy upon tue whole race and yet iE we do them justice +hev have at least taught many the vir- tue of personal cleanliness, ana the he- cessity of at least wearing their clothes to the hest advantage. Many a man sloV- en in dress has unccnsciously paid them silent tribute by paying more attention to the way he appeared in public. I think a man owes it to himself, his family and his friends, yes to the pubnc' 10 pay some attention to his personal appear ance
 have no hesitancy in admitting that T like to see a woman who is tastily gowned, and it's reflection on any town to get a repudation for being the home of women who do not know how to wear their clothes. Now l unhesitating' l ly stand for the indescrbable thing | wbicb the Parisiaus call "chic" as to its opposite which is 5o often applied tt | many English Womef of being "doWdy l I confess I used tb take pride In my countrywomen abroad for in my oplnior an American woman who pays attention l to her wardrobe is the best dressed wom en in the world. The French may exec in certain points but as it has beer 1 noted, a French woman may frequent, wear an expensive and becoming crea | tion, but will sl1imp in the matter O gloves, lingerie, hosiery, or slippers, whil her American rival will register 100 pc cent in gown and all the accessories. 1
 have never been ione to discount thu special dressing for Easter Sunday, bu have always been glad to watch the pa | rades after the church, services were over It has been my good fortune to see tn Parisians saunter down the Champ l Flysee the Berliners Inter den Linden the Viennese on the Ring strasse, an the Londoners in Rotton Row, and 1t wa some national show worth seeing an remembering.
 l But here in America. I have watche | parades which in my opinion shove
 more well dressed men and women tha
 saw in any of the European countrie. ] I have been in New York and watche
 the Fifth avenue procession on severs l occasions. have seer Washington on ii
 principal streets and avenues in bes
 bib and tucker. I have kept step with tn
 Louisville beaux and belles on Fourt
 avenue. have strolled out Peachtre
 and seen Atlanta on review, but take
 from me we can stage right here in Bil
 mingham on Highland avenue a parad that will easily rank with the best
 them.
 Yes, Easter means more, and Shoul , mean more than mere dress, but Of a the festivals of the Christian year, Eas
 CT is the most important and the mo. joyful. Christmas brings to our remen ; brance of the birth of Jesus, and trul it was the great day in the worlds hi tory and deserves to be fittingly con memorated, and should be given a lars . place in the hearts of old and young.
 But Easter is the bright day. it sig r nifies the resurrection of Him who wel : down into the fgraFe and conquert l death, and should be ''the~Sunday of o, : joy." It comes at the time of year Q awaken a feeling of gladness. I like see our churches decotated with flower
 like to see the altars banked wi stately lilies, gleamins, out like stars . hope from mass of green.", s
 So let us put on our very best al |, when Easter Sunday comes go reverent
 to church with a peM joy in our so : clothed with our very best, not as matter of mere show or worldly pri but as symboling forth the joyous ia :, that Christ is rsenl"
 A. u1fn HZ'I A.@