The Dickinson press., 1907-08-24
LITERARY ,DANDIEs,,
olsrasIi,s Gorgeous clothes-stsvsn.
son,a Queer 0et-up. 4

$3.50 E''@4'. rr'4H st@aat1s. ..s--.s-. @fsaSRG&
o~lsraslI's Gorgeous cIothes-stsvsn.
sons Queer oet.up.
Lord Lytton and Dickens prided
themselves on being literary dandieA
but tns$ the matter ofselothes| their light
paled before. that Of Disraeli in the
days when the novelist was paramount
to the politician, says the London Tit
Bits. A, black velvet coat lined with
satin, purple trousers with a gold band
running down the seam, a scarlet waist
coat with elegant lace ruf1es of such b
length as to cover, his hands, md white
gloves, the outside Of which were deco
rated with q number Of valuable rings,
were, with the addition of a profusion
Of gold chains that meandered about
his person, his not infrequent attire.
stevenson's get-up is thus described
by a fellow member Of the savlle club:
"He wore a black flannel shirt, with 4
curious knitted tie twisted in a knot;
he had Wellington boots, rather tight
dark trousers, a pea jacket and q white
sombrero hat. But the most astonish-
ing item Of all in his costume was q
ylady''s sealskin cape, which he wore
about his shoulders, fastened at the
neck by a fancy brooch, which also
held together a bunch Of darodils."
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 1gayly
colored ribbon. Trousers, coat and
waistcoat were Of green satin, each,
however, of a different hue, to repre-
sent the varied colors Of the sea under
diverse conditions. His hat was
adorned with long strands of seaweed,,
while around his neck he wore q string
Of coral beads, The buttons Of bis
coat and walstcoat were of shells,
while on his breast were pinned sew
eral pebble brooches. To complete his
marine garb he carried in his right
hand a Neptune's trident. ~.
Dumas the elder was certainly cloud"
In the matter Of personal adornment.
He was not infrequently seen abroad
in a uniform 'plentifully besprinkled
with medalllc decorations of his own
design, while he once attended an am
~bassadors reception wearing a shirt
covered with red demons ~careerlng
about in little red flames. :
Gautier was at times very gorgeous
in the matter of his raiment, a dress
Of crimson and gold on M occasion
adjoining his sturdy person. Paul
Bourget In his youth wore green trou-
sers. Monk Lewis amused his. friends
by appearing in the streets in the guise
Of a Venetian bravo. Beckford, the
author Of l"Vathek," presided at an en-
tertainment at Fonthill in the costume
Of a Roman emperor, while Boswell,
at the time when General Paoll was his
especial hero, appeared at the, Shake
speare celebrations at Stratford-on
Avon wearing a hat whereon was in
scribed "Corsican Boswell"
On the other hand, the eccentricity of
untidiness prevails in authors dress,
as it did in the a of Leslie Stephen,
who when a don~at Cambridge might
have been seen running with the boats
wearing a pair Of ancient 1annels, the
seat Of which had been mended with
large patch of red flannel, the me
mento of a. holiday among the Alps,
when a piece cut from the petticoat
Of his guides wife had been used "a
conceal sundry adaptations.
Not a few writer's have assumed sin.
gular garb while at work. Balzac used
to don the dress Of a Dominican monk
ere he took pen in hand. Samuel Rich
ardson, the author Of "Clarissa Har.
love-" could never write save In 9
laced coat and with a favorite diamond
ring sparkling on his little finger
R%ousseau's working costume was q
court dress: Thomas Moore, the poet
penned' his poems with kid gloved
hands, and Button, the eminent French
naturalist, dressed himself as a dandy
previous to sitting down to his desk.