The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-04-15
Mr.. Greeley's Clothes.

NHR. GREELEY throughout life was
1NI twitted with his slovenliness of per-
son, and many people were made to believe
that he incurred the risk of being sold for
a bag of rags when 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 al
ways scrupuously neat, Beethoven himself
having no greater passion for the bath.
His linen was ever immaculate his boots,
though often coarse, well blacked, his face
carefully shaven, and his hands as dainty
kept as those of fine woman. His cravat
had tendency, it is true, to assume the
shape of a hangman's knot, and his trows-
ers were often suggestive of requiring con-
tinuance, 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, aud strange to say, they had the effect
intended. He was sensitive ON the subject
of his dress, and seldom received advice
thereupon with becoming equanimty.-
Oddly enough, he believed himself very
well-attired person, and that few men in
his station went better clad. Sartorial
comments were wont to draw from him
sharp and stinging replies
When city editor of the Tribune once
| oc l.:
Mr.. Greeley answered. "You don't like
my dress, and don't like your department
If you have any improvements to make,
please begin at home"
James Watson Webb, while editor of the
Courier and Enquirer, was fond of CRITICS
ing the costume of his neighbor, who, re-
ferring to the fact that Mr.. Webb had been
sentenced to the State Prison, and par
doned, for fighting duel with. Thomas F..
Marshall made this extinguishing rejoinder:
Assuredly no costume in which the editor
of the Tribune has ever appeared would
create such sensation on Broadway as
that James Watson Webb would have
worn but for the clemency of Governor
Seward"
To another journalist, noted for his un.
tidiness, and his ridicule of Mr. Greeley,
the latter responded "If our friend oi
the ---, who wears mourning for his
will agree to surprise his system with 6
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 busy, that when he aros'
in the morning, he put on the first thing HI
found, and sometimes he did not put it mor'
than half on. His clothes never seemed tt
fit him, or rather, he never seemed to fine
his clothes. The wonder with many of hi
acquaintances was where he bought them
! or whether they did not grow, so unique
, often were their cut and pattern. Clothes
repeat, were tender theme with him
and he displayed the highest breeding b,
/ never alluding to what he wore. 1t is sup
posed he got his garments ready-made {
have been told his wife was in the habit o
purchasing thein), and, to save time, h
D took the first article offered. He was tn
t only New Yorker of note who repeated,
! appeared on the streets in the morning in
[ dress coat. But he made ample attone
J ment for this by presenting himself u
town at formal dinners in paletot, OF
some peculiar garment that denied iden
tifcation. Whatever may be thought o
Mr.. Greeley's quaint raiment, he was ex
l cellently dressed according to the Brum
mel canon, because, after seeing and listen
5 ing to him, one would forget what he hat
i, on. He could talk away his clothes in tn
briefest space.