The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-04-17
Mr.. GreeIey's Clothes.

Mr.. GREELEY throughout his life was
twitted with his slovenllness OF person,
and many people were maze 70 peneVe
that he incurred the risk oil belng SOLD Tor
a bag OF ancient rags whenever ne 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-Beet-
hoven himself having no greater passion
for the bath. His linen was ever immacu-
late: his boots, though often coarse, well
blacked his face carefully shaven, and his
hands as daintily kept as those of fine
woman. His cravat had a tendency, 1t is
true, to assume the shape of a hangman's
knot, and his trowsers were often sugges-
tive of required continuance; but tnat ne
was really slovenly was .palpably false.
The idle tales that he dlsarranged MS
toilet before the looking-gla and care
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 stinging replies.
! When a city editor of the Tribune once
suggested the reformation of his neck.tie
Mr.. Greeley answered, .'1 ou don't like
my dress, and | don't like your depart
ment. If you have any improvements tc
make, please begin at home"
James Watson Webb, while editor o.
the Courier and Enquirer, was fond of crit
icising the costume of his neighbor
who, referring to the fact that Mr.. Webt
had been sentenced to the State-prison
and pardoned, for fighting a duel witt
Thomas f. Marshall, made this extin
gushing rejoinder "Assuredly no cos
tune in which the editor of the Tribun
has ever appeared would create such ;
sensation in Broadway as that James Wat
son Webb would have worn but for tn,
clemency of Governor Seward"
To another journalist, noted for his un
tidiness, and his ridicule of Mr.. Greeley
the latter responded, eff our friend of th
-, who wears mourning for his depart
ed veracity under his finger-nails, will
agree to surprise his system with bath
we may attempt a clean discussion witt
him.
The illustrious editor was simply care
! less of his attire, though fastidiously neat
J He was always so busy that, when he ros
IN the morning, he put on tne nrsC tnlni
, he found, and sometimes he did not put
more than half on. His clothes neve
r seemed to fit him, or, rather, he neve
seemed to fit his clothes. The wonde
with many of his acquaintance was wher
: he bought them, or whether they did nc
. grow, so unique often were their cut an
pattern. Clothes, l repeat, were tende
, theme with him and he displayed tn
, highest breeding by never alluding
, what he wore. 1t is supposed he got hi
garments ready-made q have been tol
his wife was in the habit of purchasin
, them), and, to save time, he took the fir;
, articles offered. He was the only Me-
! Yorker of note who repeatedly appeare
4 in the streetin the morning in dress-coa
: But he made ample atonement for this b
presenting himself up town at formal dir
= ners in paletot, or some peculiar ga
: ment that defied Identification. Whateve
may be thought Of Mr.. Greeley's QUAR-
t raiment, he was excellently dressed a.
} cording to the Brummel canon, becauS
: after being with and listening to him on
: could not remember what he had on. Il
could talk away his clothes in the briefe
space.-Ha1per' Magazine for april.