Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-11
The King Of Washers.
An Analysis of the Life of Beau Brum-
NELL, the Companion of Princes.
From a Humble Position He Attained
Great Prominence--Dying in
SqualOr.

than tnls. DE had talent and knew how
TO use 1t, as Is shown by the fact that he
raised himself from humble position in
life TO be companion of and to be
almost feared by princes.
BE was born in 1878. His grandfather
was confectioner, whose son got a gov
eminent appointment and was able to
send the beau to Elton and Oxford. Of
course the only profession he could enter
was that man-millinery affair, the Tenth
hussars. So little did he know of the
business Of an officer that on leaving the
army he set up as gentleman at large
and became supreme in the fashionable
world. His Judgment was final, but not
always easy TO follow, as when, in answer
ing reference made TO him as to what
sum would be sufficient TO meet the an
nual expenditure for clothes, he said "that
with moderate degree of prudence and
economy he thought it might be managed
for eight hundred per annum." In mis-
own person Bfummell realized the per
lection of dress-that is, that if you had
seen him you would not have noticed how
he was dressed. Three hundred cravats
would be tried to obtain the proper
wrinkle. Believing that the man who
made the fingers of his gloves could not
make the thumbs, he had two artists tor
the purpose.
ALI that concerned the king of fashion
was talked about and excited interest.
Having taken into his head at one time
70 eat no more vegetables, and being ask
ed by lady if he had never eaten any in
his life, he thought deeply awhile, and
then, with intense ponderousness, said he
hnI Iarc hnh aI nfara
body, inquiring where he was going to
dine next day, was told that he really did
not know; "they put me in a coach and
take. me somewhere" And yet he consider
ed that he conferred no small honor upon
any one with whom he did dine.
But his popularity did not last long,
says the Gentleman's Magazine. 1t was
on the midsummer day of it, soto speak.
that he is said to have declared he would
order the prince regent to ring a bell.
George, ring the hell," he said. Even
the princes endurance could not stand
that. He rang the bell, and ordered "Mr.
Brummell's carriage" So the story goes;
but it seems to belong not to Brummeii,
but TO young sailor highly connected,
who told the prince to ring the bell. He
did it; and when the servant came he
said: "Iake that poor little drunken
fool off TO bed" The real cause of
arrangement was Mr.. Fitzherbert, who
took dislike to Brummell and express
ed it TO the prince. But Brummell had
his revenge, as shown in the Weu-known
anecdote of Brummell asking oompan-
ion, whom the prince had addressed in
BrummelPs presence without noticing
him, who's your fat friend?" At anoth-
er time he said that if the prince didn't
mind what he was about he would bring
old George III. inJo fashion again.
Brummell was extinguished by i'm Pc
curiosity. He had great bills for wash
ing, soap, eau de cologne, blacking and
gloves.
AS his kingdom could not be carried on
without money, the king of danties abdi-
Gated. He weEt off by night, setting like
the sun in glory. From the opera he de-
parted for Dover and landed in Calais.
'The effects of a gentleman declining
were disposed of, and
Brummell's brought Immense sums. In
one of the many snuff boxes that were
sold was found slip of paper with these
words: "This snuff-box Was intended for
his royal highness, the price regent, if
toward me-"
This is the way Brummell spent his day
at Calais: He rose at 8 o'clock, took coffee,
and read till IL. At II O'Clock to the min
ute he came out in his Powered dressing
gown and in ma jesty crossed the passage
which led to his sanctum to dress for
This solemn operation occu-
pied two hours. Then he held his levees
TO receive company. At 5 O'Clock he
dined. He had now to submit to the deg
radiation of drinking beer, for which
awful vulgarity he apologized to himself
as pretending that it was good for his
little complaints. The rest of tie even
ing he spent quietly with his dog Gyp.
He was fond of animals, and one day
made an honest confession to lady: off
saw man and dog in danger, and if
nobody was looking, L would rather save
jhe dog than the man."
George ". was passing through Calais,
and recognizing the beau, exclaimed:
Good God! there's Brumneil." There is
} story that The the king asked the con-
sui for his snuff-box. That functionary,
not being a snuffer, borrowed one of
Brummell. The king knew it to be his,
so he took pinch, put e100 note in it,
and sent it back. Brummell took the
He was not nice about some
things, even though he carried about with
him silver splitting dish; ''for no gen
tleman could spit in clay"
Through the infuenc of his friends,
Brummell was after some time appointed
British consul for Lower Norway. At last
ne set off for Caen, with one attendant;
and here the beau was pestered with all
sorts of people, wishing to make his &C
quaintance. One lady WAS his peculiar
horror, and she, watching the opportun
ity, as he was leaving the hotel, called TO
him to come up and stake tea" He
looked at her with his calm eye: "Mad-
am, you take incidence you take walk;
you take liberty, but, madam you drink
tea
On one occasion Brummell drew, in re-
ference to himself, prophetic pen-pict-
ure of ''the broken besu"-Cupid weep
ing over his shattered weapon. Sooner
than perhaps he expected it was realized.
Blow after blow began now to fall upon
him. First the consulate was abolished,
and then he had stroke of paralysis.
But the first touch of paralysis was of
another kind-the bailiE's. The beau
fed to the bedroom on his landlady. He
went further-he got into the wardrobe,
and there, from among the faded contents,
he cried: MADAM, do for goodness's
sake come and take out the key" A con-
sum of money was sent by
friends in England, but even of this he
was not careful, and when it was at an
end the beau was imprisoned By his cred
itors. Soon he had to write begging let
tiers for food. ''You will be the best of
beings if you will renew your benefact-
ion en- forme de gateau." His degrade
ton was complete. The man of three
shirts day was reduced to one month.
He who tscnti, q man for cuthinu his nailE