A SARTORIAL BATTLE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12480, 17 April 1906, Page 7

A SARTORIAL BATTLE.

In the matter of dress, the average American refuses to tolerate Imperial edict* or "Little Fatlierism." This disposition lies at the of a great conflict waged in New York during the last week iv February, which, for intensity, the correspondent of the London "Daily Telegraph' in the American city says compares with „ny of the great "struggles for freedom recorded in recent history. "On the one side," wrote the correspondent, 'are ranged two big hotels, with the moral .support of Uio others; and on the other certain plain 'Amorican citiz'Jns, who resisted the idea that in hotel dining-rooms and re - tail rants only evening dress shall bs> worn after sundown. After a gallant fight tho plain citizens have won hands down. Until victory came they went to the forbidden precincts wearing sac coats and business suits ol solid grey, some with bowler hats, others with overcoats on, and insisted upon dining in any garb which seemed to them tho best. The hotelkeepers and restaurateurs now admit that they do not, and 'never did,' want to dictate alwut the dress of their customers, and the battle so far has terminated ; but tho ethical problem is still hotly discussed, not only in New York, but in other cities. The advent of evening dre.ss in America has been simultaneous with the advance in refinement, and many regret that, any controversy on the question should havo arisen. It i.s not so general hero as in Europe, either at the theatre or table d'hote, but it lias been becoming moro fashionable every year. It would lie. just as popular here as in Europe, it is said, but in very many caiscs evening dress entails a cab as well, and the prices of the oabdrivor in big American cities are simply outrageous. Ho demands 5s where the Londoner only pays at most Is Gd, and until cab fares are decreased evening dress, at least in New York, will be a rather expensivo luxury.