Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-05-02
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Mr.. GREELEY's CLoTHEs-Mr. Gree
ley throughout life was twitted with his
slovenliness of person, and many people
were made to believe that he incurred
the risk of being sold COR bag of an
cient rags whenever he passed into Ann
Street. The fit and quality of his clothes
were not what Grammont or D'Orsay
would have recommended but he was
always scrupulously neat, Beethoven him.
self having no greater passion for the
bath. His linen was ever immaculate !;
his boots though often coarse, we'll
BACKED his face carefully shaver, and
his hands as daintily kept as those of a
fine woman. His cravat had tendency,
it is true, to assume the shape of hang
mans knot, and his trousers were often
suggestive of required continuance; but
that he was really slovenly was palpa-
bly, false. The idle tales that he disar-
ranged his toilet before the looking-glass,
and carefully squeezed his pantaloons
into the leg of his boot ere he appeared
on the street, were purposely told to an
noy him, and strange to say, they had
the effect intended. He was sensitive
ON the subject of his dress, and seldom
received advice thereupon with becom-
ing equanimity. Oddly enough, he be-
lieved himself a very we'll .attire6 per-
son, aud that few men in his station
went better clad. Sartorial comments
were wont to draw from him sharp and
singing replies.
When city editor of the Tribune
once suggested the reformation of his
neck-tie, Mr. Greeley answered, "You
don't like my dress, and | don't like
your department. If YOU have any i'm
provements to make, please begin at
home"
James Watson Webb, while editor of
the Courier and Enquirer, was fond of
eriticising the costume of his neighbor,
who, referring to the fact that Mr..
Webb had been sentenced to the State
prison, and pardoned, for fighting a
duel with Thomas f. Marshall, made
this extinguishing rejoinder: Assur-
eddy no costume in which the editor of
the Tribune has ever appeared would
create such a sensation in Broadway as
James Watson Webb would have worn
but for the clemency Of Governor Sew
ard"
To another journalist, noted for his
untidiness, and his ridicule of Mr. Gree
ley, the latter responded, If our friend
of the, who wears mourning for his
departed veracity under his fnger-nails,
will agree to surprise his system with a
bath, we may attempt clean discussion
with him."
The illustrious editor was simply care
less of his attire, though fastidiously
neat. He was always SO busy that, when
he rose in the morning, he put on the
first thing he found, and sometimes he
did not put it more than half on. His
clothes never seemed to fit him, or rath-
er, he never seemed to fit his clothes.
The wonder with many of his acquaint-
ance was where he bought them, or
whether they did not grow, SO unique
ofte14 were their cutand pattern. Clothes,
1 repeat, were tender theme with him
and he displayed the highest breeding
by never abiding to what he wore. 1t
is supposed he got his garments ready
made q have been told his wife was in
the habit of purchasing them), and, to
save time, he took the first articles offer.
ed. He was the only New Yorker of
note who repeatedly appeared in the
street in the morning in dress. coat
But he made ample atonement for this
by presenting himself up town at for
NAL dinners in a paletot, or some pecu-
liar garment that defed Identification.
Whatever may be thought of Mr.. Gree
ley's quaint raiment, he was excellently
dressed according to the Brummel canon,
because after being with and listening
to him one could not remember what he
had on. He could talk away his clothes
in the briefest space. -Hnper's Maga-
zine for April