Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-22
LITERATURE AND CLOTHES
WRITER'S OF GREAT BOOKS WHO
WERE DANDIES.
Dickens a Dressy Man-Lord Lytton
Prided Himself on His Apparel.
Disraeli Was Dudish.


rom i'uboh III DIE
Lord I.ytton and Dickens prided them
selves on being literary dandies, but in the
matter Of clothes their light paied before
that of pisraeli in the days when the
novelist was paramount to the politician.
A black velvet coat lined with satin, purple
trousers with a gold band running down
the seam a scarlet waistcoat with elegant
lace ruTies of such a length as to cover his
hands, and white gloves, the outside of
which was decorated with a number of
valuable rings. were. with the addition of
IA profusion of gold chains that meandered
about his person, his not inf eQuent attire.
Stevenson's get-up is thus described by
fellow member OF the Savile Club: He
wore a black flannel shirt, with curious
knitted tie twisted in knot; he had
Wellington boots rather tight dark trou-
sers, peajackct and white sombrero
hat. But the most astonishing item of al
in his costume lady's sealskin cape
which he wore about his shoulders, fast
ened at the neck by fancy brooch, which
also held together bunch Of daffodils.
A French Poets Clothes.
The dress of Gerard de Nerval, the
French poet, was on one occasion at least,
In keeping with the lobster which he was
wont to lead abroad on a gayly colored
ribbon. Trousers. coat and waistcoat We're
OF green satin, each. however, of differ
ent hue, to represent the varied colors of
the sea under diverse conditions. His hat
was adorned with long strands of seaweed,
while around his neck he wore a string of
coral beads. The buttons of his coat and
waistcoat were of shells. while his
breast were pinned several pebble brooches.
To complete his marine garb he carried in
his right hand Neptune's trident
Dumas the elder was certainly loud" in
the matter OF personal adornment. He was
not infrequentIy seen abroad in uniform
plentifully besprinkled with metallic deco
rations of his own design, while he once
attended an ambassadors reception wear
ing a shirt covered with red demons
careering about in little red flames. On an
other occasion he presented himself at
bal masque in the character of Bacchus
but although considerable latitude was al
lowed in the matter of dress his costume
or want OF twas too realistic TO permit of
his being allowed entry.
Gautier Was Gorgeous.
Gautier was at times very gorgeous in
the matter OF his raiment dress of GRIM
and gold on one occasion adjoining his
sturdy person; Paul Bourget in his youth
wore green trousers; Monk Lewis
amused his friends by appearing in the
streets in the guise of Venetian bravo;
Beckford. the author of "Vathek," pre-
sided at an entertainment at Fonthill in the
costume of a Roman emperor; while Bos-
well. at the time when Gen. Paoli was his
especial nero. appeared at the Shakespeare
celebrations at Standardization wearing
a hat whereon was inscribed "Corsican
Boswell"
On the other hand, the eccentrcity of
untidiness prevails in authors dress, 1t
did in the case of Leslie Stephen, who
when don at Cambridge might have been
seen running with the boats wearing a pair
OF ancient flanne!s, the seat of which had
been mended with a large patch of red
flannel. the memento Of a holiday among
the AIDS, when a piece cut from the petit
coat OF his guides wife had been used to
conceal sundry dilapidations.
Not few writer's have assumed singular
garb while at work. BalZac used to don
the dress OF a Dominican monk ere he took
pen IN hand; Samuel Richardson, the au-
thor of "Clarissa Harlowe," could never
write save In laced coat and with a
favorite diamond ring sparkling on his lit
tie finger; Rousseau's working costume
was a court dress Thomas Moore, the poet
penned his poems with kid-gloved hanSs;
and Button, the eminent French naturalist
dressed himself a dandy previous to sit
ting down to his desk.