Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-07
NAPOLEON NOT NEAT.
Had Variety of Uniforms, But
Took No Care of Them.
or AN ECONOMICAL TURN
Interesting Side Lights oH Emperor's
Character Related by DR..
Daymard, Lecturer.
Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.

Foreign Correspondence Of The Star.
PARIS, March % 1912
So much interest is still taken In
every particular Of the first Napoleon's
life and habits that DR.. Daymard has
scored a great success with his lecture
on the emperor's uniforms. the more
so as he introduced for the first time
veracious and instructive record II
the shape Of the accounts of Chevalier
the tailor. who long supplied the uni
forms. 1t is q noteworthy fact that
until he became first consul. Napoleon
went about in very shabby attire. He
was so poor that he could not affort
to be smart. Stendhal for one wrote
of him: THE appearance Of Gen. Bona
parte is not calculated to reassure me
His coat Is SO threadbare and he looks
that he was general" Baron Tair
again said Of him:
He is scarcely twenty-five. He Is
small and slight. His face is thir
and pale and long hair descends from
both sides Of his forehead. The rest OF
gathered into pigtail. The uniform
of general Of brigade which he wears
has seen fire more than once and
smacks Of the bivouac. The embroidery
of his rank is represented in all it:
military simplicity by silk galoon
nothing imposing about him but the
fire in his glance.
Started Varying Uniforms.
It was from the time of the consulate
form of general Of division with the
cheval of the guard, with green Goa
and scarlet facings, and that Of a col
onel of grenadiers, with a blue coat
Chevalier charged $42 for the greer
coat and 500 for the epaulettes, and
was the emperor's favorite wear OIL
ordinary occasions at home and alst
in war time. The blue coat. which cos
a little more, was reserved for cere
monies and receptions.
AS for the equally famous gray over
coat, Chevalier asked $40. but his sue
cessor, Lejeune, was content with So
This saving was much appreciated b!
Napoleon, who looked very CAREFUL.
into his personal accounts. The whit
waistcoat which his portraits have rem
emperor was in the habit of introduc
ing his right hand. was Of differen
materials, according to season. TIL
price of his hats. which are ais
legendary and were supplied by Pom
part, was 1915, and 1T is calculate,
that he wore upward of 100 between
1900 and 1915
Economical, But Careless.
AS a matter of fact Bonaparte, il
spite Of his economical turn of mind
did not take care Of his clothes. H
spoilt many a pair Of boots by stirrin,
the fire with them, and his habit o
drying his pen on his white overall
was equally disastrous. Then he woul'
have new pair of epaulettes witt
every new coat. There is rather al
amusing side to Chevalier's bills II
the year 1906, among other items, h
charged S2.75 for the enlargement O
six old culottes. He asked 81 for put
ting backs to a couple of waistcoat
to make them wider. and Sc for lettin,
out the front of a hunting coat. No
does the list end here, as $500 had t,
be paid for the enlargement every
where" of twenty-four old culottes.
Napoleon was growing stouter. Thi
had come on him all at once. and /
went on increasing with the march O
time. Even the coronation robe had t,
be amplif1ed. All this, however. is a,
eloquent illustration of the emperor
saving habits. as even old culotte
were not discarded until he had got al
the wear out OF them that he possibI,
could.