Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-05-02
Mr.. Greeley's Clothes.

Mr. Greeley throughout life was twit-
ted with his slovenliness of person, and
many persons were made to believe that
he incurred the risk of being sold for
bag of ancient 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 scrupulously neat-Beethoven him
self having no greater passion for the bath.
His linen was even immaculate; his boots,
though often coarse, well BACKED his
face carefully shaven, and his hands as
daintily kept as those Of fine woman.
His cravat had tendency, it is true, to as
sumo the shape of a hangmans knot, and
his trousers were often suggestive Of re-
quired continuance; but that he was really
slovenly was palpably false. The idle tales
that he disarranged 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 annoy him, and, strange to say,
they had the effect intended. lie was SEN
sitive on the subject of his dress, and sell
dom received advice thereupon with be
coming equanimity. Oddly enough he
believed himself very well attired per
son, and that few men 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 of his necktie
Mr.. Greeley answered.: 4" You don't like
my dress, and | don't like your deport-
ment If you have any Improvements to
make, please begin at home" rat
James Watson Webb, while editor of the
Courier and Enqujrer was fond OF criti-
cising 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 extinguishing re-
ioinder: Assuredly no costume in which
the editor of the Tribune has ever appeared
would create such sensation in Broad
way as that James Watson Webb would
have worn but for the clemency of Gov
ernor Seward" ......~ q.
To another Journalist, noted for his un-
tidiness and his ridicule of Mr.. Greeley,
the latter responded: If our friend of
the -, who wears mourning for his de.
parted veracity under his finger-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 1t
more than half on. His clothes never
seemed to fit him, or ratherhe never seemed
to fit his clothes. The wonder with many
of his acquaintances was where he bought
them, or whether they did not grow, so
unique often were their cut and pattern.
Clothes, repeat, were a tender theme with
him; and he displayed the highest breed
ing by never alluding 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 offered. He
was the only New Yorker of note who re-
peatedly appeared in the street in the
the morning in dress-coat. But
he made ample atonement for this by pre-
senting himself uptown at formal dinners
in paletot, or some peculiar garment that
denied Identification. Whatever may be
thought of Mr. Greeley'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
Jat1atats Henri BrOoo1ae, IN HaTper's Mor'thty.