Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-03-28
Mr. Gree1ey's Clothes.

Mr. Greeley throughout life was
twittcd with his slovenliness of per-
son, and many people were made to
believe that he incurred the risk of
being sold for bag Of ancient rags
whenever he passed Ann Street.
The fit and quality of his clothes
were not what Grammont or Dor
say would have recommended; but
he was always scrupulously neat
Beethoven himself having no great
cr passion for the bath. His linen
was ever immaculate; his boots
though often coarse, we'll BACKED;
his face carefully shaven, and his
hands as daintily kept as those of a
fine woman. His cravat had ten
dency, it is true, to assume the
shape of 4 hangmans knot, and his
trowsers were often suggestive of
required continuance; but that he
was really slovenly was palpably
false. The idle tales that he disar-
ranged his toilet before the looking
glass,and carefully squeezed his pan
falcons into the leg of his boot ere
he appeared on the street, were pur-
posely told to annoy him and strange
to say, they had the effect intended.
He was sensitive on the subject Of
his dress, and seldom received ad-
vice thereupOn with becoming
equanlmity. Oddly enough, he be-
lieved himself a very well-attired
person, and that few persons in his
station went better clad. Sartorial
comments were wont to draw from
him sharp and singing replies.
When a city editor Of the Tribune
once suggested the reformation cf
his neck-tie, Mr.. Greeley answered,
"You don't like my dress, and !
don't like your department. II you
have any improvements to make
please begin at home"
James Watson Webb while edi-
tor OF the Courier and Enquirer,
was fond Of criticising the costume
Of his neighbor, who, referring to
the fact that Mr.. Webb had been
sentenced to the State-prison, and
pardoned, for fighting duel with
Thomas F. Marshall, made this ex-
tinguishing rejoinder: "Assuredly
no costume in which the editor of
the Tribune has ever appeared
would create such sensation in
Broadway as that James Watson
Webb would have worn but for the
clemency of Governor Seward"
To another journalist, noted for
his untidiness, and his ridicule OF
Mr.. Greeley, the latter responded,
"lf our friend ofthe---,w who wears
mourning for his departed veracity
under his tinger-nails, will agree to
surprise his system with a bath, we
may attempt clean discussion
with him."
The illustrious editor was simply
careless OF his attire, though fastid-
iOusly neat. He was always SO bu-
sy that, when he rose in the morn.
ing, he put ON the first thing he
found, and sometimes he did not
put it more than halt on. His clothes
never seemed to fit him, or rather,
he never seemed to fit his clothes.
The wonder Of many Of his &C.
quaintance was where he got them,
or whether they did not grow, SO
unique often were their cut and pat
tern. Clothes, I repeat, were ten.
der theme with him; and he dis
played the highest breeding by new
er alluding to what he wore. 1t is
supposed he got his garments ready
made Il have been told that his wife
was in the habit ofpurchasing them)
and to save time he took the first ar.
ticles offered. He was the only
New Yorker Of note who repeated
ly appea, ed in the street in the nom.
ing in dress coat. But he made
ample atonement tor this by present.
ing himself up town ut formal din
ncrs in a paletot, or some peculiar
garment .lhat defied Identification.
Whatever may be thought of Mr..
Greeley's quaint raiment he was
excellently dressed according to the
Brummel canon, because after he.