The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-04-04
Mr.. Greeley's Clothes.

Mr.. Greeley throughout life was
twitted with his slOvenness of person,
and many people 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 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, well BACKED; his
face carefully shaven, and his hands as
daintily kept as those of a fine woman.
His cravat had a tendency, it is true.
to assume the shape of a hangman's
knot, and his trowsers were often su0-
gestlve of required continuance; but
that he was really slovenly was palpably
false. The idle tales that he disar-
ranged his toilet before the looking
glass, and carefully squeezed his panta-
looms into the leg of his boot ere he APP
peared on 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 thereupon
with becoming equanimity. Oddly
enough, he believed himself a very
well-attired person, and that few men
in his station went better clad. Sarto-
rial comments were wont to draw from
him sharp and singing replies.
When city editor of the Tribune
once suggested the reformation of his
neck-tie, Mr.. Greeley answered, "You
don't like my dress, and l don't like
your department If you have any i'm
provements to make, please begin at
home"
James Watson Webb, while editor of
the Courier and Enquirer, was fond of
critiesing 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 extin-
gushing rejoin Ter: "AssuredIy no
costume in which the editor of the Tri-
bune has ever appeared would create
such a sensation in Broadway as that
James Watson Webb would have worn
but for the clemency of Governor Sew
ard"
To another journalist, noted for his
untidiness, and his ridicule of Mr..
Greeley, the latter responded, eff our
friend of the -, who wears mourning
for his departed veracity under his fin
ger-nails, Will agree to surprise his sys-
tenn with bath, we may attempt clean
discussion with him. "
The illustrious editor was simply
careless of his attire, though fastidious-
~ neat. He was always so busy that,
when he rose in the morning, he put on
the first thing that he found, and some
times he did not put it more than half
on. His clothes never seemed to fit
him, or, rather, he never seemed to fit
his clothes. The wonder of many of
his acquaintance was where he bought
them, or whether they did not grow, so
unique often we're their cut and pat
tern. Clothes, j repeat, were a tender
theme with him and he displayed the
highest breeding by never alluding to
what he wore. 1t is supposed he got
his garments ready-made II have been
told his wife was in the habit of pnr-
chasing 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
morning in a dress-coat. But he made
ample atonement for this by presenting
himself UP town at formal dinners in a
paletot, or some peculiar garment that
defed identification. Whatever may
be thought of Mr.. Greeley's quaint raj
ment. he was excellently dressed ac-
eordine to the Brummel canon, because
after being with and listening to him
one could not remember what he had
on. He could tslk away his clothes in
the lJriefest space -JIGlius Henri
Bro1Une, an Harper's Magazine.