Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-02-15

birth and education, early in life soldier
by profession, and IL in his day he did
devote nearly his whole time 10 dress and
to the adornmeEt ofhis person, we think
that he was actuated, even in this, by
noble motives and patriotic sentiments (;
and that be justly deserves n place
among the great reiormers and philoso-
piers Of England The English, since
their earliest history as q people, have
been remarkable for their bigoted ideas
on nearly all subjects. Enjoying a calm
though not digni6ed self sufliciency,
they hatter themselves that all other
people are but barbarians compared with
them, and that their fogey isle contains
all the virtue as we'll as all the enlighten-
ment in the world. Their rotund forms
not admitting Of grace, they jeer at the
elegant manners OF the Frenchman,
comparing him to a we'll known reptile
because he can move with more celebrity /;
or to professor OF calisthanics, because
he can bow without disturbing his equl-
librium. Because he seldom reaches the
weight of fifteen stone, they fatter them
selves that he is half fed and because he
admits that frequent changes in the
fashion of his dress is conducive to i'm
provement in his personal appearance,
they consider him volatile.
Brummel was wise enough, at an early
age, to perceive these faults of his coun-
trymen, and brave enough to attempt a
reform by becoming an example. His
acknowledged wit and the many charm
ing qualities Of both head and heart
which he possessed, had made him the
chosen companion and associate OF the
highest in the land, and he determined
that he would reform the manners and
dress of his countrymen and friends, be
the risk what it may. OF course he met
with opposition and rdicule in this great
labor; what reformer ever failed doing
so? But that success eventually
crowned his efforts, cannot be doubted,
for be at last became the leader Of
English fashions, and held his ground
until the reformation became so COM
plete that there was no longer a neces-
sity for reformer; and when the first
gentlemen of the kingdom" jealous of
the position he occupied became his
rival, and by force Of his high rank,
superseded him in his well.earned posi-
ton.
The history of Mr.. Brummer stall and
subsequent misery is much the same as
that of other great reformers, who found
in their old age that they had served an
ungrateful people and an unappreciative
generation. He died in banishment in
poverty and neglect, as had done before
him many of the greatest men of ancient
and modern times; but this poor and
starving outcast had left the impress of
his genius in the manners of his country
men, which has gone on and improved
and fructi6ed until England is no more
what it was-until nation Of addressed
rowdies has become an example for all
the world, second only to France for the
polish of its manners and the elegance
of its society.
We, therefore, think that Beau Brum-
mel deserves well of the world, especially
of. clothiers \ aud would suggest to some
Of the leading houses among them in
New 0 0rleans-Messrs. Garthwaite, Lewis
& Stuart, for instance to build him a
monument, and perpetuate in imperish-
able bronze the memory of genius who
did so much to advance their trade and
reform public taste in dress. For he
who improves the manners of his country
should be held next in estimation to him
who reforms its morals. Both are bene-
factors of society.-M 0. Crescent.