Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-03-10
VIOLIN nY NAPOLEON.
what the Little corsican spent for Ills
Wnrdrobe--ills Coronation.


what the Little corsican spent for His
wnrdrobe--iiis Coronation.
Napoleon has 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 d dandy in
the recent work OF q French author
The book is by A. Maze-Sencier, and
IS devoted mainly to the household
affairs OF the little Corsican
lit describes in detail" says
reviewer "the luxury which Napoleon
surrounded his first extravagant
wile--who, even after the divorce,
could not get along on 100000 francs
a year and his second modest one,
aud his manner OF living. In reality
Napoleon was not extrayagant 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 he wore them as long as
possible. not considering IL beneath
his dignity to wear mended clothes
In rainy and cold weather he wrap
pea himself In a simple gray mantle
for which his tailor charged him 1870
francs. AS Is well known, Napoleon
preferred generally small, homely
hats, Tor which he paid 4S francs each.
For the court perfumes, however
tho emperor was a good customer.
He used incredible quantities of eau
de cologne, as he considered ii 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 dc cologne. paying 423 francs
Tor them. lie was also exceedingly
fond Of the smell OF the aloe. In
1903 he gave T20 francs for ten
ounces OF aloe. Costly soap. four
and i've francs cake. he also used.
lie was also good customer OF the
gloye-makers In 1903 he had forty
eight pairs made OF deerskin and
twenty.four pairs Of goatskin How
long these lasted is not told, bat
there were many similar purchases
Napoleon, however, was ex-
tremely particular as 10 his linen.
He was very cleanly. 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 8. 900
francs was spent for the material for
ak dozen shirts. One hundred hand
kcrchicis cost him 400 francs. For
linen OF various kinds the emperor
spent 10000 francs in almost
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 aud
annointcd 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.
Tho coronation clothing OF the en-
pcror and empress cost together 650, :
oQ0 francs, and that OF the courtiers
10000 For ornaments OF various
kinds. 200, 001 francs was expended.
and for memorial medals, 20, 900 All
told, the cost OF the coronation was
about 100000 francs. No monarch
OF the ancient regime expended so
much on similar occasion. Napo-
Icon l.. however. was never embar-
raised financially, lIo kept his pri-
yate treasury. as we'll 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 his
court Almost invariably the mer-
chants were Obliged to lower their
prices