Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-21
Wardrobe Criterion Is All
Wrong, NeWs.HOunds Would rOue

Either Grand Forks me are not in
a position to boast of a~'correct ward
robe or l.. c. Tyler, chairman. of the
fashion committee of the Merchant
Tailors' Association is all wrong.
At h recent convention OF that
organization. Tyler announced that un-
less a man has clothing tlat approx
dress cor. .ctly. Maybe he is right,
but II he is, the Grand Forks man
with a correct wardrobe is vet to- be
found.
When the news dispatch containing
Tyier's statement, or mistaken M,
wendell its way from. the telegraph
operators desk through the battery
of editors, copy readers, etc, IN the
news oOnl. on its way to the press,
dudes, semi-dudes and attributes who
decorate the .sanctum were given a
chance to take inventory of their per-
sonal property. One city editor. who
boasts of five suits, all nearly new,
came closest to the mark but couldn't
get a total value above the 5000 point
even counting the family ties" OF
various hues. still unworn since DIS.
tributed from the Christmas tree.
From the blue pencil. artist on down
{ or up if considered from the report
er's viewpoint) the total value of. each
wardrobe ranged from $500 to a thou
sand and at that, unbelievable as t
may be, a couple of those totals in
.cluded the cost of a soup and fish,
Then the arguments started, somt
maintaining that Tyler belonged in a
padded cell while others declared tina
salaries should be re-adjusted and the
1000 valuation be made a standard
It all ended as usual with a decision
by the city editor, who assigned a re
porter to the task of probing the per
sonal affairs of Grand Forks men il
general, picked at random.
First came an interview with tn
man who brought the grocerle.
through the muddy back yard and left
his burdens, mud and all, in the kit
chen, A cup of coffee WITH pair Of
doughnuts put him in a talking mood
and in less than fifteen minutes he
had counted up $1,1oo worth of cloth
ing on hand. NO, he wasn't married.
Next came a certain official. (Speci-
flying county or city would probably
get the reporter in tr6uble.) This in
dividual didn't have much trouble in
counting up his totals and proudly
stated that he had been wearing the
same suit for five years and figured
on buying a new pair of trousers to
match the coat to make it go another
ySdl. fADouI pow Wou1A HAdhS AAiA
~presentable in case he should get
caught in a fire. He is a family man
however, and with counting days over,
he figured he didn't have to spruce
op in fincry. His best black was care
fully guarded in a closet and he ex-
pected to use this in the mex cam
paign again.
Then came business man, porter,
railroad man, I telegraph operator,
doctor, clerk and on down the line.
but Il was the same story, over and
900 worth of clothes. 1t is true, q
few were missed, and hidden away
somewhere there may be a man or
two in Grand Forks who has such
an extensive wardrobe. but this fact
still remains 'paranount-the success-
full business man n banker does not
spend Is much money for his ward
robe as the youth in his teens or twen-
ties and earning only Il small salary.
Armed with pad after pad of fig
ures, the reporter returned to the
Eied to estimate just how much cloth
ing the ordinary fellow in Grand
Forks possessed. Here are some OF
the facts, all figured at an average:
Three suits Of clothes at $50 each,
total 500; seven shirts at IS each,
total $35; four pair of shoes at Sis
q pair, total $50; twenty collars at
rs cents each. total IS: twelve neck
ties at 50 each, total s24; four caps
and hats at six dollars, each, total $24;
ten pair of socks at 81 each, total SO;
two overcoats at SIS each, total. $50;
one r%aincoat at $25; three belts at 81
each total Sc; two pair of gloves at
$3.50 a pair, total $500; underwear.
garters and other inc1dentals, 800.
Now then, compare your wardrobe
to that schedule and see where you
stand. Chances ire, If you are just
an average man. you won't be able
to boast of SO many possessions. Yet
you will find that the entire total
will be only $714.Oo. But if you are
a dude" and carry a cane, dress suit
Tuxedo, silk dicer and three or four
silk scarfs, then add 1925 more and
you will have a total of 1909.
Unless Tyler expected his audience
to include the family Ford and the
baby carriage, the newspaper gang
still claims he is all wrong.
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