The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-07-22
AN EMPEROR'S WARDROBE.
WILHELM THE MOST ELABoRATELY
DRESSED MAN ON EARTH.

The German Kaiser Has Over Thou-
Sand costums.-Ho End OF socks and
Hsndherehi.fs, but mo slippers and
0nIy Three UmbrelIas.
The wardrobe OF no modern sovereign
has attracted more attention than that OF
the German emperor. On his recent
travels, wherever he went be became
conspicuous by his change Of dress. He
has oftener the occasion TO change MS
costume than an ordinary mortal. He
might arrive, for instance, In Kiel, the
chief German port Of war, In travelling
costume, review the marine In the uni
form OF a German admiral, then visit the
various schools In civilian dress, dine on
q foreign man -of- war In the uniform OF
an admiral of its nationality, and In the
evening give . reception in some gala
dress. For each Of the occasions differ
ent dress II absolutely necessary, accord
ing to the etiquette. He has made -
many a. ten or twelve changes In
eighteen hours. His wardrobe has
reached gigantic dimensions. 1t con-
tains nj present more than 1000 costumes,
divided into six classes. The military
costumes include all the different uni
forms Of the highest rank Of the German
army, with q collection Of modern swords
which has hardly its equal In Germany.
The court dresses, under which category
ali the dresses for great ceremonies are
classified, excepting the coronation robes
with scsptre and crown, which are taken
care OF specially, include the uniforms Of
the different orders, like the order OF the
Black Eagle, Of the Garter, etc, and the
costume for the Torchlight Polonaise st
great festivals, which 10 entirely OF silk,
with knee bresches and gartered hose.
The civilian garments, among which
the dress suits and walking costumes OF
English cut play leading part, contain
every piece OF dress that Is worn BY fash
ionable men at present, with the sxcep-
tion OF q dressing gown, which the em-
peror never wears. Fine smoking jackets
are seldom used. To that category belong
also the incognito dresses and the Free
Mason's costume. He has, besides, bath
. ing, riding, driving, sleighing, and skat-
ing costumes, and large number OF
hunting costumes, from the Tyroiese TO
the Russian fur gear for bear hunting.
The So called dresses OF courtesy in
Glide the uniforms OF foreign regiments
whose honorary chief he is, besides the
costumes he 10 obliged to don in visiting
. ~
occasions for the visitor to appear in the
hosts favorite costume, and vice versa, at
the first nesting. Even Chinese and
Japanese court dresses are not forgotten,
and there is display OF Persian garbs,
which the emperor wore during visit OF
the shah. The only national court cos
tune he has not worn is the French. OF
all these costumes he has duplicate, in
casa of an accident.
He has twelve dozen Of every piece Of
underwear, and OF socks and handker-
chiefs not less than fifty dozen. As he
does not care for silk, his underwear Is Of
merino, with the exception of the socks,
which are OF silk. His handkerchiefs are
of batiste, and as . rule he uses them
only once. A number OF embroiderers
are employed the year round to make
the initials, &c.
aAs he is not fond of jewelry, his ward.
robe contains only limited selection of
cuff buttons and studs, all in gold and
diamonds. The number of gloves, on the
contrary, is very large; there are chamois
gloves for driving, beaver for riding, dog
skin, white lamhskin, and the innumera-
BILE white kid gloves for uniforms that are
worn only once. In civilian dress he
uses gloves of distinctly different color
to the suit.
He has a number of canes that are sell
dom used. Strange to say, the umbrellas
are only three In number, and they have
been kept closed SO long that they would
surely appear streaked II opened acci-
dentally. The emperor never uses one,
as he has really no opportunity, for either
riding or driving out he is generally in
uniform.
The marshal OF his domestic affairs sup
erlnter DIS the wardrobe. 1t Is his duty to
make himself acquainted with the latest
fashions and suggest them to the emperor,
NAc p in no way an inventive mind in
fashions, and rather follows other author
tiles, choosing what he deems best. The
emperor, however, has decided likes and
dislikes. Everything must be tightly fit
ting; the trousers scarcely touch the
boots; he has also great aversion for the
short oyercoat and narrow pointed shoes.
The emperor generally likes to have his
own way. When he was invited by the
Emperor of Austria to hunt in the Tyro-
llese mountains, he gave the order for sew
.eral suits worn by the Tyrolese mount
aineers, The marshal remarked to the
siS5yFor, that, although his majesty could
boast OF we'll built figure, he would not
LOOK to advantage in the tight fitting
knee breeches, mountain shoes and gait
ers. leaving the knee bare, OF the Tyro-
lese. to which the emperor replied,
brusuuely: Don't trouble yourself about
NV taste. If / order thing, it means
that it has to be done.
The leading tailors OF the larger citiel
offer their services with the greatest In
ducements, and are triumphant II they
egt at least one order, as it entities them
AFTER filing it satisfactorily, to the right
Of advertising themselves: Tailor i
His Majesty" etc. Four times yea
the marshal takes the emperor's measure
not only for costumes, but Tor shoes
gloves and hats, providing for any chang
in his majesty's figure.
h, For boots and shoes slippers he neye
wears) the annual expenses amount +
d. 900 marks They are made by th
best shoemakers, and bear on the solel
IKE ever other piece of his dress excer
the incognito costumes, the Hohenzoller
A l..