DANDIES v. MEN.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 212, 18 September 1873, Page 2

DANDIES v. MEN.

(Libehal Review.) It is generally conceded that the prettier a woman makes herself the more credit is due to her. It is accepted as the natural order of things that she- should spend a large portion of her time before a mirror, and in devising means to enhnnce her attractiveness. So long as she mnkes herself beautiful, minor imperfections, such as vanity, unthriftiness, intellectual shallowness, and indolence can'jbe readily forgiven her. At least, so judges tho world, A few philosophers unsparingly condemn this view, perhaps, declaring that its efl'ect is to make woman a more toy and plaything, incapable of lofty aspirations or earnest work, but tho murmurings of these thinkers seem to affect no one _ but themselves, and fail to induce any visible alteration in public thought. Many who grumble at women do so, not because women give much time and trouble to their self-adornment, but because they do so to little purpose. They may regret to see them aping such a malformation as the Grecian bend, but thry would not think it a pity if the personal inconvenience endured by the actresses were gone through with a more satisfactory result. Thus it may be said that women are privileged beings, and that they are not, at any rate, thought the worse of because they exhibit a great deal of conceit, and go out of their way to attract attention. Simple compassion is felt for them when in their endeavor to display a great deal of finery, and, by so doing, indicate the length of the purse from which they may freely draw supplies, they encumber themselves witli a load which is difficult tobear, and look something liko travelling mountebanks. The ense is very different so far as men art concerned. An overdressed man, at first sight, conveys- the impression to nine beholders out of ten that ho is a brainless puppy. The whiteness of his well-kept hand is intuitively deemed a reproach rather than a credit to him. When most people look at his fine clothes they murmur a statement that he would be all tho better if ho were stripped of them, and placed in such circumstances that ha would hara to work hard to gain ] his daily breud. Tho reason for all this is that it is universally felt that man was made for use, not ornament, and that he is not doing his duty either to himself or those by whom he is surrounded if ho is not engn<red in ■omo active sphere of usefulness. It aggravates the man who works ito look at the man vr ho is able to get along in the world, clothing himself in the finest raiment, surrounding himself with all the beauties and comforts which art and science can produce, and living upou the fat of theland, without doing anything at all. It is not the sight of rich ladies reclining indolently ia luxurkm carriages co much as the vision of extensively got-up dandies takiag their ease, which rouses the advocate of communistic principles to a state of absolute frenzy. The latter argues that it is monstrous that he should be compelled to labour in order that the former may be in a position to abrogate all that is manly in them. Allied to this feeling of indignation there is one of thorough contempt. Your man of communistic proclivities feels that he is in all respects superior to the kid-gloved dandy, and that it is only by a peculiar combination of circumstances, arising from the fact that our social system is radically at fault, that his enemy maintains his position of superiority. It is argued that were the two placed somewhere where thty had both to depend upon their own efforts it would quickly be found tliat the dandy would prove himself what he is, a useless encumbrance. Po«sibly the dandy may be, in nine cases out of every ten, effeminate and not over-burdened with brains, but there is no doubt whatever about one fact. He commands a certain amount of respect. Even your socialist will, almost in spite of himself, become rather awed when he ia brought in contact with a dashing specimen of the order. He will assume a conciliatory tone, he will adopt an humble mien, and he will submissively give in to the man whom h* professes so greatly to despise and loathe. lie hates himself because Tie so acts ; he heaps denunciations on the head of bin who extorts an unwilling homage when he escapes from the sphere of bis influence; but the fine feathers, added to the manner which the tine feathers help to sustain, are too much for him to hope to ! combat openly and successfully. Perhaps all this is owing to tho fai-t that pronounced dandyism is supposed to represent a certain amount of wealth and a certain social status. Certainly, to tho circumstance that fino clothes exercise such an influence, we owe the possession of so many men in our midst who ostentatiously apes the dandy, who may be said to study but one art, viz , that of dressing themselves. When it is evident to the most obtuse that tho man whom the little Aiabsof the street look after and call a " •well " has a manifest advantage aver tho individual who olothes himself in a very ordinnry fashion, it would bo surprising if many men did not undertake tho role indicated. There should be no mistake in judging dumb™. They are of two distinct classes. The one is led to act sis ho does becaime he w innntely conceited, and is mi addle-paled that he enn npi'iociuto but ono fact, viz., that it ia only bj\e\trava«nniJv m<Tclrossing hiineelf he can hope to attract any uUonliuu. i.i\ournb!e or othorwiko. Perhups he imagims he lim« ,< <;orrl liguir, whuli should be leen to thu best advantage, or perhaps ho wising to be takon for one of the un&lucrnls of the ivn.iiuiiiit}. But, vthatoterbe

his ostensible object, bis conduct baa its rise in overweening vanity, and is a tacit confession that he has no faith in hi*, own powers. The other class is actuated by different motives. A man feels doubtful about hit position, whioh,. naturally he desires to sustain. It is not surprising, then, that he is led to ape tlio eucetitric foppishness and lavender-water style, whicn w, probably, affected bj many of t liose with whom hedesires to associate. Thus, in thitcato, dandyism is ameansto an end. A better one might be chosen, no doubt, but still the fact is as we. have stated. Many who attempt to. play this- little gumo come to grief. It U impossible to avoid noticing the startling incongruities of some men's attire Fioshy everything is but thon ono portion i» posiUY«ly shabby and dirty, while the other is simply remarkable for its brilliancy and new look. Moreover, there ace often little evidences •bowing that the actor reall/fjdf m not -know how society require* a man should b* 4*»«cL • 'flJe.rfMOft for this is very dimple. Th* class now- irifltr noiiM aM of im^ perfect education, and their early training hat been received, amidst associations not calculated to ehfotce a knowledge of the proprieties , '