Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-19
Mr.. Greeley,s Clothes.

Mr.. GREELEY throughout his life was
twitted with his slovenliness OF person,
and many people were made to believe
that he incurred the risk of being sold Tor
a bag of ancient rags whenever he passed
into Ann.Street. The fit and quality OF
hH clothes were not what Grammont or
D'Orsay would have recommended; but
he was always scrupulOusly neat-Beet-
hoven himself having no greater passion
for the bath. His linen was ever immacu-
late his boots, though often coarse, well
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 hangman's
knot, and his trowsers were often sugges-
| tive of required continuance; but that he
was really sloyenly was palpably false.
The idle tales that he disarranged his
| fully squeezed his pantalOOns into the leg
of his boot ere he appeared in the street.
were purposely 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 advice there
upon with becoming equanimity. Oddly
enough, he believed himself very well-at-
tired person, and that few men in his
station went better clad. SartOrial COM
ments were wont to draw from him sharp
and singing replies.
When a city editor of the Tribune once
suggested the reformation of his neck-tie,
i Mr.. Greeley answered, ''You don't like
my dress, and ! don't like your depart
ment. If you have any improvements to
make, please begin at home"
James Watson Webb, while editor OF
the Courier and Enquirer, was fond OF crit
J icising the costume of his neighDor
who, referring to the fact that Mr.. Webt
had been sentenced to the State-prlson
and pardoned, for fighting duel WIN
Thomas f. Marshall, made this extln-
gushing rejoinder "Assuredly no cos
tune in which the editor of the Tribune
has ever appeared would create such
sensation in Broadway as that James wat
son Webb would have worn but Ter 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 OF the
: -, who wears mourning for his depart
ed yeracity under his finger-nails, viii
e agree to surprise his system with bath
2 we may attempt a clean discussion witt
: him."
The illustrious editor was simply care
|. less of his attire, though fastidiously neat
He was always so busy that, when he ros'
: in the morning, he put on the first thine
he found, and sometimes he did not put !
i, more than half ON. His clothes nevel
! seemed to fit him, or, rather, he neve
J seemed to fit his clothes. The wondel
with many of his acquaintance was wher
he bought them, or whether they did no
grow, so unique often were their cut ant
, pattern. Clothes, l repeat, were tende
theme with him and he displayed tn
! highest breeding by never alluding T.
what he wore. 1t is supposed he got hi
garments ready-made q have been toll
t his wife was in the habit of purchasin,
! them), and, to save time, he took the frs
articles offered. He was the only Ne'
1 Yorker of note who repeatedly appears
in the street in the morning in dress-coal
0 But he made ample atonement for this b.
v presenting himself UP town at formal dir
i ners in paletot, or some peculiar gan
q ment that defied Identification. Whateve
may be thought of Mr.. Greeley's quain
> raiment, he was excellently dressed az
O cording to the Brummel canon, becaus
q after being with and listening to HIM on
!. could not remember what he had on. II
could talk away his clothes in the briefe:
space.-Jtosius Henri Bro,one, IN Harper
- Mn1azille for ADriL.