New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-08
THE CLOTHES THAT NAPOLEON UORE
WHAT THE LITTLE C0GSIC,N SPENT TOR HIS
wAEDEoBE-COsT or HIS COEON ,TfoN.

WHAT THE LITTLE CORSICNN SPENT TOR HIS
wAEDEoBE-Co>r or HIS CoEoN>TIoN.
Napoleon has been characterized in many
different ways 10y the numerous writer's who have
studied his career that II t. not surprising 10 find
him described as a dandy In the recent work Of a
French author. The book is by A. Mae S"ncicr.
and is DEVOTED mainly to the household affairs Of
the IAtil" Corslcan.
1T describes In detail" says a reviewer, the
luxury with which Napoleon surrounded his first
exiravagant wife-who even after the divorce
could not Ct along on %o@p francs "A ycar-and
his second modest one and his manner Of living
In reality Napoleon was not cNtravngant as far
as his own person was concerned. When he had
himself crowned as Emperor 900 francs year
were set aside for his wardrobe but he never
spent more than 2oGO francs for that purpose
The price Of his uniforms varied between 200 and
go francs. and he wore them rs long as possible.
not considering 1t beneath his dignity 10 wear
mcndcd clothes. In rainy and cold weather he
wrapped himself in a simple gray mantle for
which his tailor charged him 100 francs. "a is
well known Napoleon preferred generally small.
homcly hats for which he paid IS francs each.
For the court perfumes. however. the Emperor
was n good customer He used incredible quantI-
tics Of dc cologne he considered II not only
refreshing but wholesome. ard washed his body is
It every morning. Between June and September.
1906 he used no fewer than lc2 bottles Of eau Dc
cologne. paving i13 francs for them He was also
exceedingly fond Of the smell of tho aloe. In lNS
he gave 10 francs for ten ounces OF aloe Costly
soap. and . francs CAKE. he also used. He was
also a good customer Of the glovcmakcrs. In 1903
he had forty-cleht pairs made Of decrskn. ana
twenty -four pairs Of goatskin How long these
lasted H. not told. but there were many similar
purchases.
"N1poloon. however, was extremely particular
to his linen lie was very clearly. ana changed
his underwear and dress shirts daily. The finest
linen Uecd for h,s dress shirts. as be seen
from the fact that In $685. more than 5000 francs
were spent for the material FOR six dozen shirts.
ono hundred handkcrciicfs cost him l.io francs.
For linen Of various kinds the Emperor spent 49,
0OO francs in 1875 almost half Of the sum which he
usually spent his wardrobe
AT no time. however did tho court purv"yors
enjoy greater harvest than wl"n h" was crowned
and anDnt.d Emperor Never before 80
many magnificent presents sent from IN" Tullcrirs.
and never before did The royal palace on the
banks of the Seine such display. The corona
ton clothing 81 the Emperor and Empress cost to-
gCthcr t@OD francs. anI that of tho cOurii"ra
$1,000 For ornaments OF various kinds 10000
2rrn". Al told IN" cost II IN" coronation was
about 5GD@D francs No monarch OF the ancient
regime expended so much on similar occasion.
Napoleon l however. meyer embarrassed
financially. lie kept his private treasury. well
az IA" state Treasury. in IA" bost order. Far from
allowing MS purvcyors to take advantage OF him.
h. examined "v"fy bill. even for tn most nsig
Almost invariably the merchants were obliged 10
lower their prices"