People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-01-26
WORN BY NAPOLEON.
What the Little Corslcan Spent fer III
: Wardrnha- HIa Hnrnnnfinn

What the Little Corslcan Spent for BIS
Wardrobe-His Coronation.
Napoleon hes been characterized
in so many different ways by the
numerous writer's who have studied
his career that it is not surprising
to find him described as dandy in
the recent work of a French author.
The book is by A. Maze-Sencier, and
Is devoted mainly to the household
affairs of the little Corsican.
alt describes in detail" says a
reviewer, "the luxury which Napoleon
surrounded his first extravagant
wife-who, even after the divorce,
could not get along on 100000 francs
a year and his second modest one,
and his manner of living. In reality
Napoleon was not extravagalt as far
as his own person was concerned.
When he had himself crowned as
emperor 10000 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 240
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 wrap
ped himself in simple gray mantle
for which his tailor charged him 100
francs. As is we'll known, Napoleon
preferred generally small, homely
hats, for which he paid 4S francs each.
"For the court perfumes, however,
the emperor was a good customer.
lie 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 1872 bottles of
eau de cologne, paying 423 francs
Tor them. He was also exceedingly
fond OF the smell OF the aloe. In
1908 he gave 100 francs for ten
ounces of aloe. Costly soap, four
and five francs cake, he also used.
He'was also a good customer of the
glove-makers. In 1903 he had forty
eight pairs made OF deerskin and
twenty-four pairs of goatskin. How
long these lasted is not told, but
there were many similar purchases.
Napoleon, however, was ex-
tremely particular as to his linen.
de was very clearly, and changed
lis underwear and dress shirts daily.
The finest linen was used for his
dress shirts, as can be seen from the
fact that in 1903 more than 5, ZOO
francs was spent for the material for
SIX dozen shirts. One hundred hand
kerchiefs cost him l, 400 francs. For
linen OF various kinds the emperor
spent 10000 francs in 1S0S-aliQost
half OF the sum which he usually
spent on his wardrobe.
Eat no time, however, did the
court purveyors enjoy greater har-
vest than when he was crowned and
annointed emperor. Never before
were so many magnificent presents
sent from the Tullleries, and never
before did the royal palace on the
banks OF the Seine see such display.
The coronation clothing of the EN-.
peror and empress cost together $50.
OOO francs, and that Of the courtiers
100000. For ornaments of various
kinds. 100000 francs was expended,
and for memorial medals, 10000. All
told, the cost of the coronation was
about 5000, 900 francs. No monarch
OF the ancient regime expended SC
much on a similar occasion. Napo
leon l., however, was never embar.
raised financially. He kept his pri
vate treasury, as well as the state
treasury, in the best order. Fal
from allowing his purveyors to take
advantage OF him, he examined every
BILL even for the most insignificant
thing which was purchased for hi.
court Almost invariably the mer
chants were obliged to lower theil
pricesn