The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-12
NAPOLEON'S CLOTHES.
What the Little Corsican Spent for HIS
Wardrobe.


What the Little Corsican Spent for HIS
Wardrobe.
Napoleon has been characterized in
so many different ways by the numer-
GUS writers who have studied his career
that it is not surprising to find him de-
scribed as dandy in the recent work
of French author. The book is by
A. Maze-Sencier, and is devoted main
" to the household affairs Of the Little
Corsican.
1T describes in detail" says the re-
viewer, ''the luxury with which Ma
poleon surrounded his first extravagant
wife, who, even after the divorce. could
not get along on 800, 900 francs year
and his second modest one. and his
manner of living. In reality Napoleon
was not extravagant as far as his own
person was concerned. When he had
himself crowned as emperor, 10000
francs year were set aside for his
wardrobe, but he never spent more than
10000 francs for that purpose. The price
of his uniforms varied between 200
and 240 francs, and '4e wore them as
long as possible, not considering it be-
meath his dignity to wear mended
clothes. In rainy and cold weather he
wrapped himself in simple gray man
tie, for which his tailor charged him
100 francs. AS is well known, Napo-
leon preferred generally small. homely
hats, for which he paid IS. francs each.
For the court peri umes, however,
the emperor was a good customer. He
used incredible quantities of eau de
cologne, as he considered it not only
refreshing but wholesome, and washed
his body in it every morning. Between
June and September, 1906, he used no
fewer than 1862 bottles of eau de
cologne. paying 423 francs for them.
He was also exceedingly fond of the
smell of the aloe. In 1908 he gave 72O
francs for ten ounces of aloe.
Costly soap, 4 and S francs a
cake, he also used. He was
also a good customer of the glove
makers. Ip 1908 he had forty-eight
pairs made of deerskin, and twenty
four pairs made of goatskin. How long
these lasted is not told. but there were
many similar purchases.
Napoleon, however, was extremely
particular.asto his linen. He was very
clearly, and changed his underwear
and dress shirts daily. The finest
linen was used for his dress shirts, as
can be seen from the fact that in 1905
more than 5000 francs were spent for
the material for six dozen shirts. One
hundred handkerchiefs cost him 1,400
francs. For linen of various kinds the
emperor spent 10000 francs in lsOs-al
most half of the sum which he usually
spent on his wardrobe.
AT no time. however, did the court
purveyors enjoy greater harvest than
when he was crowned and anointed
emperor. Never before were SO many
magnificent presents sent from the
Tuilleries, and never before did the
royal palace on the banks of the Seine
see such display. The coronation cloth
ing of the emperor and empress cost
together $50, 900 francs, and that of the
courtiers 10000. For ornaments O.
various kinds roo, 900 francs were ex-
pended, and for memorial medals 20, 600.
All told, the cost of the coronation was
about 5000, 900 francs. No monarch of
the ancient regime expended so much
on a similar occasion. Napoleon l.,
however. was never embarrassed finan-
cially. He kept his private treasury,
as well as the state treasury, in the
best order. Far from allowing his pur-
veyors to take advantage Of him, he
examined every bill, even for the most
insignificant thing which was pur-
chased for his court. Almost invaria bly,
the merchants were obliged to lower
their prices. "-Chicago Inter-Ocean.