The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-08-02
Beau Brummell,

iue iSonuou correspondent OF tnc gun.
day Times gives the following account of
Beau BrummeIs
The real story Of Brummell, had the
people been so astute us to seize its lead
ing points, amusing as Il romance. The
audacious insolence with which he tram.
pied down the haughtiness of the high
nobility Of England was splendid d-because
successful. His grandfather kept small
confectionery shop in Bury street, St.
James's, London, aud let lodgings. The
first Lord Liverpool, then almost obscure,
lodged in his house, took his sou as secre
tary, got him office under Lord North,
aud allowed him to feather his nest SO
well that on his death, in 1904, there was
Eos, 900 TO divide among two sous and
daughter. George, the second WAS edu.
Gated at Eton, and dressed so well, while
early in his teens, that the prefix of Beau"
was then put to his name. In Oxford, he
affected to be exclusive, and, on his faith
ers death, in 1894, at the age of sixteen
was presented with conetcy, in the 9th
Hussars, by the Prince of Wales, colonel
OF that regiment. HeuceIorth he WAS the
Princes constant companion. In two
years he WAS a captain, and then-thrrw
up his commission, and set up as gen
tleman at large. This was before he was
2l, and the only reason assigned was, that
the regiment was ordered to Manchester,
which he considered decidedly vulgar.
He started, as an independent gentle
man, on f3O,O00-a small sum for car
rying on such Observation-Disclosures
small for one whose wardrobe cost him
$4,000 year, and who entertained fash.
ion and even royalty at his table. No
man dressed better; simply, but richly,
with elegance and taste. In this he
ecIipsed his much puffed successor, ID Or
say whose showy artire made him look
like what he was-a tailor's walking ad-
vertisement. The Price of Wales, whose
wardrobe has cost 100000, WAS Brum-
mel's greatest rival, until corpulence,
which he hateI, destroyed all his reason
able pretensions to the throne of Dandy
ism. Simplicity, ofthe most studied kind
waS BrummelIs great system. ..-
He mixed anil visited in the first circles
for he was young, handsome, satirical, and
the fashion. He rode well and was
good shot, but affected to despise Melton
and the pheasants on the plea that both
were too troublesome. His great reform
was in the neckcloth, which then was
sort Of white muslin padding. He intro
duced the moderate Use Of starch, which
gave the necessary stiffness, and dispcns-
ed with the pad. He was curious in his
tie; if the cravat did not glide into it at
the first tonch, he threw it aside and tried
another. His valet, who was met with a
heap Of these rumpled neckcIoths on his
are, solemnly said, These are our fail
ure."
The Prince Of Wales quarreled with
him, after nearly twenty years, intimacy.
The story runs that, in the Princes draw
ing-room he said, "WaIes, ring the bell"
which was done, and when the servant
came in, the Prince said, "Order Mr..
Brummelis carriage" The Beau denied
this, and attributed his quarrel to some
thing he had said about Mrs. Fl zherbert's
stoutness. This was about 1911. Brum-
nell continued King of Fashion though ne
had quarreled with the Prince. But lie
took TO gaming. In 1914, he lost all he
had, and 100000 more; raised what
mo ley he could and retrcated to Calais !;
attributed his bad luck to his having par
ted with "a lucky sixpence," which, he
maintained. Rotbschild must have got
possession Of; vas supported in his exile
by his brother and sister; was so liberal,
when his remittances came, that the beg
gars called him lie Roi de Calais" was
made British Consul at Clen, on the the
mediation Of Wellington with George
w.; was removed, without compensation,
when that consulate was abolished lost
his senses spent his last hourse in hos.
Pital, for lumatic mendicants and died
March I'd 1910.
There. in nutshell, is the true history
Of Brummell."