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any necessary or important work may be accomplished without adding
to his wardrobe。 Kings and queens who wear a suit but once； though
made by some tailor or dressmaker to their majesties； cannot know
the comfort of wearing a suit that fits。 They are no better than
wooden horses to hang the clean clothes on。 Every day our garments
become more assimilated to ourselves； receiving the impress of the
wearer's character； until we hesitate to lay them aside without such
delay and medical appliances and some such solemnity even as our
bodies。 No man ever stood the lower in my estimation for having a
patch in his clothes； yet I am sure that there is greater anxiety；
commonly； to have fashionable； or at least clean and unpatched
clothes； than to have a sound conscience。 But even if the rent is
not mended； perhaps the worst vice betrayed is improvidence。 I
sometimes try my acquaintances by such tests as this Who could
wear a patch； or two extra seams only； over the knee？ Most behave
as if they believed that their prospects for life would be ruined if
they should do it。 It would be easier for them to hobble to town
with a broken leg than with a broken pantaloon。 Often if an
accident happens to a gentleman's legs； they can be mended； but if a
similar accident happens to the legs of his pantaloons； there is no
help for it； for he considers； not what is truly respectable； but
what is respected。 We know but few men； a great many coats and
breeches。 Dress a scarecrow in your last shift； you standing
shiftless by； who would not soonest salute the scarecrow？ Passing a
cornfield the other day； close by a hat and coat on a stake； I
recognized the owner of the farm。 He was only a little more
weather…beaten than when I saw him last。 I have heard of a dog that
barked at every stranger who approached his master's premises with
clothes on； but was easily quieted by a naked thief。 It is an
interesting question how far men would retain their relative rank if
they were divested of their clothes。 Could you； in such a case；
tell surely of any company of civilized men which belonged to the
most respected class？ When Madam Pfeiffer； in her adventurous
travels round the world； from east to west； had got so near home as
Asiatic Russia； she says that she felt the necessity of wearing
other than a travelling dress； when she went to meet the
authorities； for she 〃was now in a civilized country； where 。。。
people are judged of by their clothes。〃 Even in our democratic New
England towns the accidental possession of wealth； and its
manifestation in dress and equipage alone； obtain for the possessor
almost universal respect。 But they yield such respect； numerous as
they are； are so far heathen； and need to have a missionary sent to
them。 Beside； clothes introduced sewing； a kind of work which you
may call endless； a woman's dress； at least； is never done。
A man who has at length found something to do will not need to
get a new suit to do it in； for him the old will do； that has lain
dusty in the garret for an indeterminate period。 Old shoes will
serve a hero longer than they have served his valet if a hero
ever has a valet bare feet are older than shoes； and he can make
them do。 Only they who go to soires and legislative balls must
have new coats； coats to change as often as the man changes in them。
But if my jacket and trousers； my hat and shoes； are fit to worship
God in； they will do； will they not？ Who ever saw his old clothes
his old coat； actually worn out； resolved into its primitive
elements； so that it was not a deed of charity to bestow it on some
poor boy； by him perchance to be bestowed on some poorer still； or
shall we say richer； who could do with less？ I say； beware of all
enterprises that require new clothes； and not rather a new wearer of
clothes。 If there is not a new man； how can the new clothes be made
to fit？ If you have any enterprise before you； try it in your old
clothes。 All men want； not something to do with； but something to
do； or rather something to be。 Perhaps we should never procure a
new suit； however ragged or dirty the old； until we have so
conducted； so enterprised or sailed in some way； that we feel like
new men in the old； and that to retain it would be like keeping new
wine in old bottles。 Our moulting season； like that of the fowls；
must be a crisis in our lives。 The loon retires to solitary ponds
to spend it。 Thus also the snake casts its slough； and the
caterpillar its wormy coat； by an internal industry and expansion；
for clothes are but our outmost cuticle and mortal coil。 Otherwise
we shall be found sailing under false colors； and be inevitably
cashiered at last by our own opinion； as well as that of mankind。
We don garment after garment； as if we grew like exogenous
plants by addition without。 Our outside and often thin and fanciful
clothes are our epidermis； or false skin； which partakes not of our
life； and may be stripped off here and there without fatal injury；
our thicker garments； constantly worn； are our cellular integument；
or cortex； but our shirts are our liber； or true bark； which cannot
be removed without girdling and so destroying the man。 I believe
that all races at some seasons wear something equivalent to the
shirt。 It is desirable that a man be clad so simply that he can lay
his hands on himself in the dark； and that he live in all respects
so compactly and preparedly that； if an enemy take the town； he can；
like the old philosopher； walk out the gate empty…handed without
anxiety。 While one thick garment is； for most purposes； as good as
three thin ones； and cheap clothing can be obtained at prices really
to suit customers； while a thick coat can be bought for five
dollars； which will last as many years； thick pantaloons for two
dollars； cowhide boots for a dollar and a half a pair； a summer hat
for a quarter of a dollar； and a winter cap for sixty…two and a half
cents； or a better be made at home at a nominal cost； where is he so
poor that； clad in such a suit； of his own earning； there will not
be found wise men to do him reverence？
When I ask for a garment of a particular form； my tailoress
tells me gravely； 〃They do not make them so now；〃 not emphasizing
the 〃They〃 at all； as if she quoted an authority as impersonal as
the Fates； and I find it difficult to get made what I want； simply
because she cannot believe that I mean what I say； that I am so
rash。 When I hear this oracular sentence； I am for a moment
absorbed in thought； emphasizing to myself each word separately that
I may come at the meaning of it； that I may find out by what degree
of consanguinity They are related to me； and what authority they
may have in an affair which affects me so nearly； and； finally； I am
inclined to answer her with equal mystery； and without any more
emphasis of the 〃they〃 〃It is true； they did not make them so
recently； but they do now。〃 Of what use this mea