Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-06-26
AUTHORS AND THEIR CLOTHES.

Many writers, composers, painters
and sculptors have believed that their
food of ideas was helped by the adop-
tion of some peculiar style of dress.
Dumas, for example, used to take OF
his coat and vest, unfasten his shirt
collar and turn up his sleeves to the
elbows before beginning to write.
Probably he would have preferred to
dispense with clothing altogether if he
could have had his way.
Button, on the other hand, when
writing his Natural History" at
tired himself in full court dress, ruff
Aes, frills and all, ftly to sustain the
dignity of the subject.
Beranger used to get himself up to
look like an old concierge, and he al
ways wore a red rose in his button
hole in order to draw attention to the
fact of his not being decorated. 1t is
said of Scribe that he failed to grasp
his subject unless he were fnlly dressed
and spick and span.
Lamartine, with curious perversity,
preferred to be known as politician,
architect or financial authority, rather
than as a poet, and he used to dress,
in accordance with these aspirations,
in tightly buttoned frock coat. Vic
tor Hugo, who was always bent on
calling attention to his genius, startled
the world at one time by taking as
his model tie figure of the Create"
in Michael Angeles frescoes.
A fancy costume of black velvet
was always donned by Wagner when
he was composing, and kind of Tam
O Shanter cap. A signet ring pre-
sented to him by Frederick of Prussia
was worn by Haydn while he was
working, and Beethoven would wash
his hands dozens of times before be-
ginning his compositions.
Victorien Sardou composed La Tos-
ca, as we'll the most of his other works,
clothed in little gray jacket, tight
trousers and a Scotch cap" seated
close beside blazing fire, being the
most chilly of mortals; fires, summer
as well as winter, were always in evil
dence. Mascagni, while working on
his japanese opera, arrayed himself
in flowing robe Of Eastern style,
with all his surroundings Oriental in
character, ocean of coffee being con-
sumed as necessary to inspiration.
Cimarosa, the celebrated Italian
composer, turns out his very best
work when he is surrounded by "a
bevy of children, making day hideous
by their noise and clatter. Mendes
is the most absent. minded of mortals,
and often has three or four cigars
alight at the same time while COM
posing,.through excessive absentmind-
edness. Some odd tricks are also
credited to DR.. Conan Doyle, who is
another absent-minded mortal.
Red was a color detested by Lewis
Carroll" and little girl who came
to visit him was absolutely forbidden
to wear a red frock of a bright hue
while out in his company. Pink and
gray were his favorite combinations
of color. In personal matters he had
a great fear of extravaganza and
would only wear cotton gloves. He
never wore an overcoat, and always
wore a tall hat, whatever might be
the climatic conditions. He was de-
voted to the cup which cheers, but not
inebriates, and while writing "Alice
in Wonderland" he consumed tea
enough to float the English navy.
While composing he used to walk up
and down the room, swinging the tea
pot back and forth, while the tea
STEPPED.
Edward Fitz Gerald, of "Omar
Khayyam" fame. when be wrote, al
ways sat in a high-backed. low-seated,
red-covered arm chair, often in dress
ing gown and slippers, and invariably
kept his hat on, which, indeed, he
seemed never to remove except when
be wanted a red handkerchief from
the interior. In texture his clothes
are described as resembling that worn
by pilots; his trousers were short, and
be always wore low shoes and gray
stockings. He generally wore stand
up collar, with black silk scarf care
lessly tied in bow, and his white
shirt front was unstarched, and did
not suggest recent acquaintance with
the ironing board. In cold weather
he wore a large, gray. plaid shawl
around his neck and shoulders. He
was a smoker but the same pipe was
never used twice, as he always broke