Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-12-02
GsgtelCaueouS.
Prom LOadsq paper
Meditations on an Old Coat.
-QueSGue ipse-.vltiI,
II quorum pars magma fii.

HlpeftiueHtig Wherever you go, ebOaT-
Tasses all your motions, and thoroughly
confounds your self possession. A man
with new coat on is not at home even
in his own house, abroad he is uneasy
he can neither sit, stand, nor 60 like
reasonable mortal 4n
All men Of sense hate new coats; bu
fool rejoicetli in new coat. Without
looking at MS person, you can tell IL b.
has one on. New coat is written on his
face, il hangs IKE label out Of bis ga
ping mouth. There IS an odious har
mony between his glossy garment ans;
his senseless phiz; Disgusting kecpin
in the portrait. OF all vile exhibitions,
defend me from a fool in a new blue
coat Hence horrible substance, broad
cloth mockery, hence! But come, thou
old coat, fair and free, be thou my
Charogl Conduct re 10 the Elysilln OF
thread-bare essayists, battered beeus,.
aud fobbing taylors, where the geniUs
az shreds and patches dwells in Some
fairy monmouth street, where eterna'
cabbage springs beneath his feet.
An old coat is like an old acquaintance.
However still you may have felt with
either at the first introduction, time
makes you perfectly easy with both;
with both you take equal liberties; you
treat neither with ceremony. An ac
cidental breach with either is soon re-
paired.
An old coat is favorable to retirement
and study. When your coat is old YOU
feel no tendency to Haunting abroad, OF
TO dissipation. Button, they tell us, used
to sit down to write in his dress wig, aud
HAYDEN to compose in a new coat and
ruhles. L cannot imagine how they
manage it. | could no more write an
article in a new coat than in a strait
waistcoat Were to attempt It, my very
good friends, the public, would be severe
sufferers.
A happy thought, by the way, just
strikes me. You may tell by the man
ner of an author how he is usually dress
ed when composing. an convinced
that Sir Walter Scott writes IN aa old
coat Lord Byron without any coat al
ali. Geoiirg Crayon in the ordinary
dress OF gentleman, neither new cr
old. Goblet in a coat very often turn
ed. Moore in very handsome brown
trock, and nankeea tro~sers Leigh
Hunt 10 night gown, of fantastic pat
fern, and somewhat shabby. Mr.Words-
worth in a friezc Jacket and leather
callers. The late M Shelly wrote in
dreadnought. Coleridge in careless
dress, half lay, bali clerical
Your old coat is good rloraIist; it
recalls your mind from exte rnai pog,ps
snd vaniiies. aud bids YOU hook within
No man ever thinks of drawing; the ewes
of the la lies ~ an old coat: fneir tia;ier,
is not likely 10 turn his head s.s long as
ms coat remains untu=ned. friend
asked me 10 60 with him last night 10 the
Theatre; consulted my old coat, and
remained at home TO write for the benefit
of posterity.
cannot say that have go much at
IA ch,nent to other aged articles of dress
as to an old coat. An old waistcoat is
well enough, but old breaches are treach-
erous ir ends, too apt To de elt YOU on a
pinch; Their friendship rests on very
slight foundation, and they often fail
those " no are in need
Not So an old coat; it sticks By YOU TO
the last With little care YOU NAV
wear it for years, nay, for life. TIE
Vulnerable parts of an old coat are the
arm-pits, the elbows, and the skirts; of
those you must be cautious. remem-
Der friend who was rather attached to
emphatic gesticulation, and used to ele-
yate his arms to an indiscreet height,
long after his coat had passed its grand
climatric; tins should be avoided. |
recollect another, an old brother soldier,
who. Joseph like, left his skirts in his
washerwoman's hands one morning. and
went to the parade in short Jacket,
though not belonging to the light infan-
try.
have seen an old coat appear to great
advantage IN the body of a great buck I;
as thus he was we'll dressed in all other
respects, immaculate waistcoat, une>-
ceptlonable ineXpressibles, silk stock
Tags in perfect health, but coat as old
a Adam.-Thus attled he used to caper
at ball with immense applause. Next
morning he visited his partners in a
SUIT that Sir Richard Steele would call
1re-neW.
The Indifference with which you enter
into all sorts of places and adventures
when your coat is old, Your gallant in
teneudpnrp ,f flo weather yopr b,u,1