New Ulm weekly review., 1882-10-04
Wardrobial History.

Wardrobial History.
George Dittoe, of the Kentucky State
journal, in correcting "trumped up''
history, all article from the Glasgow
Times, says:
AS it seems those pants are bound to
go into history, and as we know all
about them, being present at the time
the conversation in regard to the enor-
nous price paid for them (by note, the
payment Of which was secured by mort
gage on the premises) took place, we
feel it our duty to correct the above,
which will be done by simply giving the
facts in the case, as to-wit:
On one of the days of the great Con-
vention, held by the members Of the Ken
lucky Press Association, regardless Of
expense, at the city of Frankfort, in
June, 1877, as the members were being
conveyed from the city to the fine stock
farm OF Col. Hunt Reynolds, Opie Read,
Andrew Kelley, Will Rowlett and the
author occupied one of the hacks. 1t
was during that ride that the controver-
sy about pants occurred. Kelly (Par-
menas Mix of the Detroit Free Press)
and the writer were dressed common,
while Read and Rowlett were decorated
in the highest style of art. Each seemed
to be jealous of the others suit, especial
ly the pants portion. Rowlett's hat and
vest were borrowed for the occasion.
Read actually owned his entire outfit.
But Read didn't know Rowlett was liy.
ing in q rented vest and hat at the time
(the property of General Russell, of La
grange), and Rowlett didn't know there
was mortgage on Reads pants.
Thus matters went on until Rowlett
got so jealous he couldn't restrain him.
self any longer, and he asked:
':Read, where did you get those
.:1n Bowling Green. Where did you
get yours?"
I'm Louisville. What did yours
cost?''
''What did yours cost?" asked Reed,
seemingly being determined to not be
outdone in extravagant prices paid.
And Rowlett, with the same object in
view, thought he'd bluff him by saw
ing:
Il paid, sir, $3.50 for these pants"
II paid So for mine"
This is the truth of history, and any,
one saying it isn't was outside of that
hack at the time.
The pants were not short for Reed, as
is alleged in the above quotation; they
were. plenty long enough, but Read
being a long man. his legs were little
too long for the pants, that's all.
For the truth of history we will also
state that at that period Opie Read was
editor of the Bowling Green Poatoqraph,
and Andrew Kelly filed the same posi-
ton on the Franklin Patriot. Both pa
pers were illuminated by rare humor,
which would have been sufficient, had
each genius been retained on his
respective paper, to long ago have es-
tablished for both papers national
circulation as we'll as national reputa-
ton.
But it seems the pruprietors of the
two papers couldn't see what prizes
they had in their possession; for when
Kelly and Read arrived at Frankfort
(they came in on the next train), and
we were introduced to them at the beer
tap at Luscher's brewery. Mr.. Kelly OBJ
served that he was little late getting
away from Franklin on account Of
money being little close with the pro-
prietor of the Patriot; that he, the pro-
prietor, started out to collect some mon
ey for him and got back to the Office
too late for the train.
"How much did he collect?" asked
"A dollar and a half" drolly replied
Kelly.
''Great heavcns!'' exclaimed Read:
che did well for SO small a town; nv
bosses made me miss the train, too.
They had been out collecting for four
hours, and the total work only amount
ed to one dollar. paid fifty cents of
that on this pair of pants at Louisville,
and, Kelly, you know what l did with
the other half dollar-where is that
faskp'
'*Never mind the flask; for it don't
ask. But drink of free beer, and be of
good cheer" You see Kelly was born
poet.
We have forgotten in what way Kelly
1quandered all his months salary, yerv
probably, however. by loaning it out to
less wealthy editors present.
That at that convention there was an
enormous amount of business transacted
can not be justly denied; but that the
quarto above mentioned did more busi-
ness than any other eight members
present should not fail to be recorded in
history. They are all living yet, and it
may be possible they will meet again,
a wish the writer will entertain until the
very blissful meeting takes place.