The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-07

THIS celebrated leader OF fashion in the
days OF the Regency-George Bryan brum-
mel-was born June Z. LIS. His grandfather
was a pastry cook in Bury street, st. James
who, by subrenting a large portion OF MS
house. become a moneyed man. So writes
John limbs of the man who could s'ap the
Prince of Wales.
While umm father was a boy. Mr..
Jenkinscn came TO lodge at his fathers
house, and this led to the lads employment
in a Government office. where the LOGGER
and patron had attained emineoce: he was
afterwards private -ecretar- to Lord Liv-
erpool, and a: his death left to his son. the
Beau. a goodly fortune.
The Beau was sent to Elton. and thence
to oxford. At 1s he was gazetted to a
c~ornetcy In the Tenth Hussars. at that time
commanded By the Prince OF Wales. to
whom he had been presented on the terrace
OF Windsor when the Beau was q boy at
Elton. He became an associate of the Prince.
then two and thirty. but who. according to
Thomas Rakes. disdaiped not to take les
sons in dress from m at his lodg-
ings. Thither would the future King wend
his way. where, absorbed in the mysteries
OF the toilet, he would remain till so late
an hour that he sometimes sent his horses
away. and insisted on giving him
a quiet dinner. which generally ended IN a
deep potation.
Brummels assurance was one Of his earl
fest characteristics A great lord, who lived
in Russell Square. one evening gave a ball.
at which J.. one OF the beauties OF the time,
was present. Numerous were the app!ica-
lions made to dance with her: but being
as proud Is she was beautiful. she refused
them all, till the young Hussar made his
appearance: and he having profered to
hand her out. she at once acquiesced. great
~ to the wrath OF the disappointed candi-
dates. In one Of the pauses OF the dance
Brummel happened to find himself close
- --.N&onrA and nNr1oimad-
'.Ha, you here? Do. my good fellow. tell
me who that ugly man is leaning against
the c~himney-piece?"
"Why. surely YOU must know him" re-
piled the other. "'Tis the master OF the
house"
NO. indeed said Brummel. coolly, how
should /? I was not invited"
Brummel was one Of the first who revived
and improved the taste for dress. and his
great innovation was effected upon neck
cloths. They were then worn without stiff
fleming Of any kind and bagged out in front,
ruching up to the chin in a roll. To remedy
this obvious awkwardness and inconveni-
ence he used to have his slightly starched.
He did not, however. like the handles, test
their fitness for use by trying IL he could
raise three parts OF their length by one
corner without their bending. 1t appears.
however. that ff the cravat was not prop
erly tied at the first effort. or inspiring i'm
RuiSe, A. "dS daW0yS SSNNSa AAS soASs
was coming downstairs one day with a
quantity of tumbled neckcloths under his
arm, and. being interrogated O the sub
ject. solemnly replied:
''Oh. they are our failures"
( Practice like this soon made Brummel
perfect. and his tie soon became q model
that was initiated but never eQualed. His
biographer says Of him that he was al
ways carefully dressed. but never the slave
OF fashion. This seems probable when II
Is recalled that he set the fashions and did
not follow them.
Brummel was the autocrat Of the world
in which he moved. It has been said that
Nine. de Stael was In awe OF him and con-
sidered her having failed to please him as
her greatest misfortune. while the Prince
OF Wales having neglected to call upon her.
1amentation. Tho great French authoress,
however. was not without reason in her re-
grets. To offend or not to please Brummel
was to lose caste In the fashionable world,
to be exposed to them mos cutting sarcasm
and the most poignant ridicule.
Captain Jesse thus tells the story Of
Brummels cutting quarrel With the Prince
OF Wales. sfterward George ". Lord Al
vanley. Brummel Henry Pierrepolnt and
Square rooms . fete. which was called the
Dandies' Ball. Alvanley was a friend Of
the Duke Of York. Harry Midway was
young and had never been introduced to the
Prince Regent: Pierrepoint knew him
slightly and Brummel was at daggers'
drawn with his Royal Highness. No invi-
tation was sent to the Prince. The ball ex-
cited much interest and expectation. To
the surprise Of the hosts 4 communication
was received from the Prince intimating
bis wish to be present Nothing was left