The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-09-05
LONDON'S GREAT TAILOR.
RccoIlcctions OF the Man Who Put
DisracIi on the Road to Fame.

.Iremember Henry Poole very well."
said gentleman 10 n Philadelphia
Times reporter. .Hc was fine, tall,
handsome man, over six feet in height,
with bushy blonde whiskers. He
measured forty-two inches around the
chest. There was no mistaking the
man when you saw him; he walked the
streets as If London were his own pri-
vate property. Henry Poole was the
second son of the old tailor of that
name. He was educated at Cambridge
and graduated with bachelor OF arts
degree. He might never have taken
to the tailoring business. but his BROTH
er died and then Henry thought he saw
his way to make big thing of it. You
see the large connection he had among
his college friends helped him. He
was a man who always dressed with
great taste, and not only expected but
insisted on all his employees dressing
we'll, too. When Henry Poole took the
business in hand first there were not
more than hundred men employed;
in ten years there were nearer thou
sand"
"Is there any truth in the story Of
Poole's patronage Of Disraeli?"
.Oh, yes. Disraeli was in very poor
circumstances when he first obtained
the clerkship in the home Office. Poole,
who was ALWAYS in and out Of every
place where young men congregated,
saw him. took fancy TO him, and be-
lieved there was something great in
him He took Disraeli out with him
linnnr and nrnnngaI
that he should supply him with clothes
suitable TO the position in society that
Dsraeli ought TO hold. The future
prime minister jumped at the offer. and
there is little doubt that he also receiv-
ed pecuniary assistance from the
shrcwd and generous tailor"
.'Did he he not assist the late En-
peror of the French in the same wayr"
"Ycs; but there was reason for
that, you know"
On. yes You refer to the story of
Poole's wife"
mo. no; there is not a word of
truth in that 1t was Miss Howard.
She was cousin of Poole's. Her
mother kept very fashionable little
hotel in Dover street. Piccadilly, just
behind the White Horse cellars. She
was created Duchess dc Beauverne by
Napoleon on his marriage TO the pres
ent Empress. on condition that she left
France. He also settled very good
income on her. Poole did not marry
until late in life. His wife was lady
with whom he had fallen in love while
quite young man at college."
He was very strict, was he not, in
business?"
IL should think he was, indeed. He
never allowed anything TO 60 out of
his shop that had not been tried on and
fitted over and over again. He would
employ man and keep him in his en-
ploy for the simple reason that he was
| of the same size and build as n good
customer. | have known u man to sit
for n couple of hours cr a saddle
block. only having the crease in pair
of riding breechcs rectitied. He reduc-
ed tailoring TO science"
Ibid he do any cutting or measuring
| himself?"
mo, sir! There is story told OF
Lord Hardcastle meeting Poole on the
chain pier at Brighton. He stopped
him and said: Look here, Poole. got
this coat of you and see how badly ii
fits. Poole took bit of chalk out OF
his waistcoat pocket and marked his
lordships coat all over and said; Take
that coat TO my cutter, my lord. and he
will make the necessary alterations. ~
"He was very extravagant in his hab.
its, was he not?"
VERY. He had house at Brighton,
another in Burlington street. near his
store. which was a perfect mine OF art,
and on the Thames. at Hammcrsmith,
he had regular palace. His cham
paign luncheons cost him fortune.
| lie had one of the finest hunting studs
in Great Britain. He never cared
what he paid for horse, and although
he was such big man he was mag
niiicent cross country rider"
"He did not die rich. did hep"
s.No, he was worth about f25,OOO
when hs died, and the result OF the sale
of his houses and horses barely settled
the claims of his creditors. He was
generous to fault. He could never
pass beggar, and many half-sover-
eign he's given away to people who,
perhaps, didn't deserve his charity.
He was the best of employers and he
kept nen with him for years, but there
was never the least mistake about who
was master on his premises.