The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-06-26
AUTHORS AND CLOTHS.
How Some Writer'S Dressed.
EVERY ONE pIs WAY.

EVERY UNE Hlj WAY.
Selected.
Many writer's, composers, painters
and Eculptors have believed that thel
flood of ideas was helped by the ador
ton OF some peculiar style of dress
Dumas, Tor example, used to take of
his coat and vest, unfasten his shirt
collar and turn up his sleeves to ths
elbows before beginning to write
Probably he would have preferred te
dispense with clothing altogether il
he could have had his way.
Button, on the other hand, when
writing his sNatural History" attired
himself in full court dress, ruffles
frills aud all, fitly to sustain the dig
nifty Of the subject.
Beranger used to get himself up to
look like an old concierge, and he al
ways wore red rose in his buttonhole
in order to draw attention to the tact
OF his not being decorated. It is said
of Scribe that he failed to grasp his
subject unless he were fully dressed
spick and span.
Lamartine, with curious perversity
preferred to be known as politician,
architect or financial authority, rather
than as 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 the figure OF the "Creator" In
Michael Angeles frescoes.
A fancy costume Of black velyet was
always donned by Wagner when he
was composing, and kind of Tam O.
Shanter cap. A signet ring presented
to him by Frederick OF Prussia was
worn by Haydn while he was working,
and Beethoven would wash his hands
dozens of times before beginning his
compositions.
Victoria Sardan composed La Tos-
ca, as we'll as 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 we'll as winter, we're always in cyl
dence. Mascsgni,- while working on
his Japanese opera, arrayed himself
in a flowing robe OF Eastern style,
with all his surroundings Oriental in
character, oceans of coffee being con-
stunned as necessary to inspiration.
Cimarosa, The celebrated Italian
composer, turns out his very best
work when he is surrounded by bevy
Of children, making day hideous by
their noise and clatter. Mendes is
the most absent-minded of mortals,
aud often has three or four cigars
alight at the same time while COM
posing, through excessive absent
mindedness. Some odd tricks are also
credited to DR.. Conan Doyle, who is
another absent-minded mortal.
Red was color detested by "Lewis
Carroll" and a little girl who came
to visit him was absolutely forbidden
to wear red frock OF 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 tall hat, whatever might be the
conditions. He was devoted
to the cup which cheers, but not In
ebriates, aud while writing "Alice In
Wonderland" he consumed tea enough
to aoat the Eaglish navy, While
composing he used to walk up and
down the room, swinging the teapot
back and forth, while the tea stepped.
Edwa I'd Fliz GelaId, o
Khayyam' fame, when he wrote, a !
ways sat in a hlgh-backed, low-seated
red-covered arm chair, often In dress
Ing gown aud slippers, and invariably
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