Somehow, it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summer’s day; bony mules hitched to hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. men’s stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. what does the tone of the underlined phrase suggest about the male residents of maycomb? they dressed up to go outside even though it was very hot and humid. men of culture wore their best clothes to impress those they met in the morning. hot days were ideal conditions for men's clothing of the time to appear its best. southern men did not understand how to use starch correctly.