Of all the entries in various Chap Records I have found, those written by Carol Pardee have been the most entertaining. Carol, the privileged granddaughter of Oakland mayor Enoch Pardee, took her Chap Records quite seriously. After a second date in 1908 with a suitor named Ray Smith, Carol took out her Chap Records and using careless spelling, wrote her opinion about the boy: "To big a sport. Talks to much."
Later in the same year, she met Frank Haudel. She described Frank as, "[t]oo dirty. Teeth are green." On January 16, 1911, after a date with Wyman Smith from Sacramento, she wrote a one-word summary of her courter: "FOOL."
Carol's other reviews range from "dandy" to "tiresome." Her favorite word to describe a disappointing suitor was "mutt" and she used it frequently. Her Chap Records are on display at The Pardee House Museum in Oakland, CA. Her book is described as a small volume bound in green and gold with a dapper gentlemen doffing a hat on the cover.
I was pleased to learn that Carol got engaged to Jerry Hadar, a prominent attorney in Oakland. Sadly she died from influenza in 1920 before they were able to be married. Jerry is not mentioned anywhere in her Chap Records. I guess Carol decided some things are not meant for prying eyes. Good for Carol!
Source: "Chap Records Were Basically Yelp for 1900s Eligible Bachelorettes" by Rick Paulas.
Unidentified dapper gentleman - I think Carol would have given him high marks.
"The prolific top hat was a key staple of the dapper gentleman. From head to toe one's attire needed to be fashionable, clean and well put together. Ties or cravats embellished the necks of men during the Victorian era; cravats were often tied in a bow tie style which was very popular among men during the 1860's. Clean clothes were just the beginning of the dapper transformation, having your shirt starched and pressed was integral as well. For the classic dapper look, most men went with a dark toned pair of trousers and those looking to stand out opted for stripes or plaid. Adding a waist coat to the ensemble tied the outfit together and most fashionable gentleman choose to use this piece of clothing as their statement piece. Boots were the shoes of choice in the Victorian era, usually high ones that were laced up. To complete the look, a coat had to be worn and it was usually mid-thigh in length with a rich, dark tone.
Facial hair was another key component of the dapper during the Victorian Era. Men would wear side- burns, full beards, mustaches, mutton chops and flap wings to name a few. The dapper men in the Victorian era used their facial hair and fashion sense to show society their manliness. The full outfit accompanied by awesome facial hair was the epitome of the dapper gentleman during the Victorian era."
- Curious Historian website
I just went with the options I was given...
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