The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-22
CLOTHES THAT NAPOLEON WORE.
What the Little COrsican spent for
His Wardrobe.

Napoleon has been characterized in SO
many different ways by the numerous
writer's who have studied his career that
IL is not surprising to find him described
as a dandy in the recent works of
MaZe-Sencier. and is devoted mainly 10
the household affairs of the Little Corsi-
can.
1T describes in detail" says a review
en- the luxury with which Napoleon
surrounded his first extravagant wife
who. even after the divorce, could not
get along on 800 600 francs a 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, 20 600 francs a 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 2f0 francs, and
he wore them as long as possible, not
considering it beneath his dignity to
wear mended clothes. In rainy and cold
weather he wrapped himself in a simple
gray mantle, 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 perfumes. however, the
emperor was good customer He used
as he considered it not only refreshing
but wholesome, and washed his body in II
every morning. Between June and Sep
TENDER. 1906. he used no fewer than 162
bottles Of eau de cologne, paying 4z3
francs for them He was also exceeding
~ fond Of the smell OF the aloe. In 1903
he gave 100 francs for ten ounces Of
aloe. Costly soap and francs a cake,
he also used. He was also a good Gus
toner Of the glove-makers. In 1905 he
had forty-eight pairs made Of deerskin,
and twenty-four pairs Of goatskin. How
long these lasted is not told. but there
We're many similar purchases.
Napoleon, however, was extremely
particular as TO 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 1908 more than
5000 francs were spent for the material
for six dozen shirts. one hundred hand
kerchiefs cost him 400 francs. For linen
of various kinds the emperor spent 10000
francs in 1S0S-almost half Of the sum
which he usually spent on his ward
robe.
AT no time. however, did the court
purVeyorS enjoy greater harvest than
when he was crowned and anointed en-
peror. Never before We're so many mag
nificent presents sent from the Tuilleries,
and never before did the royal palace on
the banks Of the Seine see such display.
The coronation clothing of the emperor
and empress cost together $4,000 francs,
and that Of the courtiers 100000. For or
naments Of various kinds 100000 franks
were expended, and for memorial medals
10000 All told the cost OF the coronation
was about 5000. 900 franks. No monarch
Of the ancient regime expended so much
on similar occasion Napoleon /, how
ever. was never embarrassed financially.
He kept his private treasury, as well as
the state treasury. in the best order.
Far from allowing his purveyors to take
advantage of him. he examined every
bill even for the most Insignificant thing
which was purchased for the court Al
most invariably the merchants were
obliged TO lower their prices"