The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-04-05
MIR. GREELEY'S CLOTHES.


Mr.. Greeley throughout life was
twitted with his slovenliness of person,
and many people were made to believe
that he incurred the risk of being sold
for u bag of ancient rags whenever he
passed into Ann street. The fit and
quality of his clothes We're not what
Gra1nmont or D'Crsay would have re-
commended; but he was always scrupu
lousy neat-Beethoven himself having
no greater passion for the bath. His
linen was ever immaculate; his boots,
though often coarse, we'll blacked; his
face carefully shaven, and his hands as
daintily kept AZ those of q fine woman.
His cravat had tendency, it is true,
to assume tho shape Of a ilangman's
knot, and his trousers Wero often Sug-
gestive Of required continuance; but
that he was really sloven was palpably
false. The idle tales that he disatrang-
ed his toilet before the looking-g lass land
carefully squeezed his pantaloons into
the leg Of his boot ere he appeared on the
street, where 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 re-
sclved advice thereupOn with becOm-
ing equanimity. Oddly enough, he
believed himself very wcll-attired
person, 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 suggusted the reformation of his
necll-tie, Mr.. Greeley answered, "You
don't like my dress, and ! don't like
your department. If you have any i'm
,rn tn ,>1n n
ho.ne.'
James Watson Webb, while editor
ofthe Courier and Enquirer, was fond Of
criticissng the costume Of his neIghbor,
who, referring to the fact that Mr.. Webb
had been sentenced to the State Prison,
and pardoncd, for fighting duel with
Thomas l.. Marshall, made this cXtin-
gushing rcjolnder: "Asurcdly no
! costume in which the editor OF the
Tribune has ever appeared would create
such q sensation in Broadway as that
James Watson Webb would have
worn but for the cle1nency of Governor
SeWard.'
To another journalist, noted for his
untidiness, and his ridicuIc Of Mr..
Greeley, the latter responded: eff our
friend of the, who wears mourning
for his departed veracity under his fin
system with q bath, We may attempt 81
clean discussion with him."
Tho illustrous editor was simply
careless Of his attire Though fastidiously
noat. He was always SO busy that,
when he rose in the morning, he put on
| the first thing he found, and sometimes
no did not put it more than half on.
His clothes never seemed to lit him, or,
rather, he never seemed to ct his clothes.
The wonder with many Of his acquain-
tanee was where he bought them, or
whether they did not grow, so unique
often were their cut and pattern.
Clothes, I repeat, We're a tender theme
with him; and he displayed the highest
. breeding by never abiding to what he
wore. 1t is supposed he got his gar
his wife was In the habit of purchasing
them), and, to save time, he took tho
first offered. lie was the only New
Yorker OF note who repeatedly appear
ed in tho street in the morning i'll q
dress coat. But he made ample atone
meat for this by presenting himself up
town at formal dinners in paletot, or
some peculiar garment that defcd ideu-
titcatiOn. Whatever may be thought
or MIR. Grcelcy'S quaint rainent, he
! was eNcellcnty dressed according to the
Brummel cannon, because, after being
with and listening to him, one could
not rcmcnber what lie had on. He
could talk away his clothes in the brief
est spacc.-J,nli,ts LEC!1yi B7ow?7e, IN
HoVc!''s -HUgoeuso for -iprH.