Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-11-18
MISCELLANY.
MEDIrArroNs ON AN OLD COAT.
--Quequs ipss--vidi.
Et quorum Pars magma tui.

Et quorum pars magma fui.
7 hate a new coat. 1t is like a
troublesome stranger that sticks to
YOU most impertinentIy wherever you
go. eubarasses all your motions, and
thoroughly confounds your self pos
session. A man with new coat on
is not at home even 10 his own house;
abroad he is uneasy; he can neither
sit, stand, nor go like a reasonable
mortal.
An men Of sense hate new coats,
but fool rejoiceth in new coat
Without looking at bis person, you
can tell if he has one on. New coat
ia written 90 his face. 1t hangs like
a label out Of his gaping mouth
.rhere is an odioos harmony between
his glossy garment and his senseless
phiz: a disgusting keeping in the
portrait. OF all vile exhibitions, de-
fend me from a fool in new blue
coat with brass buttons! Ayaunt. thou
blue coat! Hence. horrible substance;
broadcloth mockery hence! But come,
thou old coat fair and free; be thou
INV muse; be thou my Charon! Con
duct me to the Elysium of thread
bare essayists, battered beaus. and
josbiug taiiors, where the genius OF
shreds and patches dwells in some
fairy Monmouth.street, While eternal
cabbage springs beneath his feet.
An old coat is like an old acqaaint-
ance. However stiff you may have
felt with either at the first introdac
ton, time makes you perfectly easy
with both; with both you take equal
liberties; you treat neither with cere-
mony. An accidental breach with
either is soon repaired.
An old coat is favorable to retire.
nent and study. When your Coat is
old You feel no tendency to Haunting
abroad or to dissipation. Button,
they tell US, used to sit down TO write
IN his dress wig, and Haydn to com
nose il, new coat and rutfles. ! cam
not conceive how they could manage
if. could no more write an article
in a new coat than in strait waist
coat. Where 1 to attempt it, my very
good lrinds. the public, would be Sc
we're sufferers.
A happy thought. by the way.
lust strikes me. You may tellby the
manner of an author how he is usual.
" dressed when composing. ! aR
convinced that Sir W. Scott writes
in an old coat. Lord byron without
any coat at all. Geeffrey Crayon in
the ordinary dress OF a gentleman,
neither new nor old. Cobbett in a
coat very often turned. Moore 10 a
very handsome trock, and nankeen
trowsers. Croly in full dress. Leigh
Hunt in a night gown. OF fantastic
pattern, aud somewhat shabby. Mr..
Wordsworth in a frieze jacket and
leather gathers. The late MIR. Shell
ly wrote in dreadnought. Coieridse
in q careful dress, half lay, half
clerical.
Your old coat is good moralist;
il recalls your mind from external
poMps and yanities, and bids ySu
look Within. No man ever thinks of
drawing the eyes of the ladies in an
old coat: their fattrry is not likely
to turn his head as long as his coat
remains unturned. A friend asked
me to go with him last night to the
theatre; Iconsulted my old coat, and
remained at home to write for the be-
nett of posterity.
cannot say that l have SO much
attachment to other aged articles of
dress as to an old coat. An old waist
coast is we'll enough; but old sreec hes
are treacherous friends. too apt to
desert you on a pinch; their friend.
ship rests on very slight foundation
and they often fail those who are IN
need.
Not so an old coat; it sticks by
You to the last. With little care
Sou may wear it TOR years; nay. for
AEc. The Vulnerable parts of an old
coat are the arm pits, the elbsws and
the skirts; OF these yam must be eau
tious. remember a friend wbo VAS
rather attached 10 emphatic gesticu-