Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-10
PRESIDENTS SET
STYLES IN DRESS
PersonnI characteristics OF Men wha
shaped Dcstinies of tho Nation.
Back 10 the ;urIy Dnys.

shaped Dcstinies of tho Nation
Back 10 the Early Dnys.
WASHINGTON. March e.-GencrsI
George Washington was tho Chester
Held OF all the United States Presidents.
Fillmore too. was polished: Lincoln Y
the jaii..t Madison the shortest Folk
the lelnest. Cleveland the stoutcs,,
TAFT the largest.
But few people of the great republic.
have any knowledge or the person;i
appearance of tho Presidents who ruled
the destinies Of the nation in It's carlicr
days. and who shaped very much the
fashions and customs of tho times in
which they lived while occupying the
position OF President of the United
States.
George Washington, in personal ap-
Dearancc. was among tho finest specj-
mems of humanity who has ever been
chosen to the office. He was tail and
we'll proportioned, except his hands and
feet. both members being very large
His hands were actually deformed
Ills bioSraphers say that his gloves
we're mado to order by reason OF tho
largeness OF his fingers and the de-
formity of his wrist joints.
His Dress at First InaueurntIou
NJ tho tinc Of his inauguration he
brown cloth. with knee breechcs metal
buttons, on which eagles were en-
bosscd. ON his shoes wcrc silver
buckles. At his side was a sword His
hair was dressed and powdered after
the fashion OF the day, and was worn
| in bag
John Adams was called in his day
a handsome man, with clear. strong
lines. wide forehead and brows. His
figure WAS large aud round of middle
height, but of stout and wcll-knit
frame. In old age he was moro in
clined 10 corpulency. Like all persons
of rank in those days, he wore an
embroidered coat, silk stockings, silver
buckles his shoes. lie was SO
dressed at his inauguration.
Thomas jefferson was no dude.
From the descriptions given of him and
the many paintings found in public
places. no is presented to the present
genera ton as many-sded character
So far as personal appearance goes, he
was tall and slender. His hair was
sandy, his face frccklcd. lie had large
hands and feet, bright, hazel-Sray (.
eyes, and, it is said, when lie smiled he
showed his perfect teeth. Concerning.
his dress, he was not one OF those who
believed in putting much style.
w u'T TIC appeared DC1OrC congress to
deliver his inaugural address he wore
a long blue coat with gold buttons
blue trousers. ana rough American
shoes tied with leather strings His
headgcar was usually Il large felt hat.
careicSSiy pulled down over his eyes
MADISON n SmnIi Man.
James Madison was little man. He
| is claSscd the smallest or most
diminuticc of those who have filled the
s. a ~ 9. nj GIsn To M .--t.A
is not given. but IL can be judged from
the descriptions given of him that he
was about five feet four inches. He is
claSsed. by one of his bicgraphcrs as
small-francd, pale. thoughtful-face,I
man. Aaron Burr nicknamcd him as
great little Madison" sobruucrS
often applied To him I'm after years OF
his dress, 1t was usually simple when
nc appeared 10 the Senate TO take tho
oath Of office AZ President or the United
Wore suit manufactured from tho
wool raised in This country. THIS was
presented to him by Colonel Humphrey
and Chancellor Livingston.
James Monroe was the last Of the
Cooked mats" lie had served rs u
captain il tho Revolution. and. both
IN ISL. and ut his second inauguration.
in 1921. he rode to the Capitol - the
head O. Tn Immense thronE of soi-5
dicrs and militia, and Was drcsscI i'm
the continental military style. James
Monroe had been designated as tho
stately Virginian. for he was nearly
six feet tall. lie was very slender, n
man OF polished manners His usual
attire was Il dark blue coat, buff vest,
small clothes and top boots. He woro
cooked hat of the revolutionary style,
and had been called by many writer's
the last of the cooked hats" because,
he was tho last Of the Presidents to
adhere TO the fashion OF the past CEN
fury. y
This President Mcthn,bcal in Dress. K
John Quincy Adams was mcthorli-
cal in dress as we'll as everything else.
For ono who had associated SO much
with uniformed aud giddy dressed court
people of all nations of the world, IT.
may he said to his credit that he cared
not TO follow the fashions of these
European courts. TN the occasion OF
his inauguration rs President OF the
United states he wore a black cloth
suit. wholly OF American manufacture.
In this he was following the example
81 Washington and Madison in wearing
hom.Spun goods.
Andrew Jackson had more striking
characteristics than any man who had
preceded him as President OF the Unit +
cd States. lie often appeared in public
wearing a military cloak and carrying
a stout hickory cane, by which ho
earned the sobriquet OF odd Hickory"
Dressed in plain clothes, he rode TO
the Capitol for his inauguration with
out an ovcrcoat
Martin Van Buren, was trained and
lifted as man of fashion. Ills drcss
was faultless on the day of his inaugu-
ration.
James X. Folk was our lcanest Presi-
dent, consequently his clothes never
appeared to 1T him
Adopts Citizens Attire
Zachary Taylor early appropriated
citizens dress in place OF the REGULAR
uniform of the army. During his term
as President he usually appeared wear
ing an old silk hat, we'll set on the
back OF his head. and a black broad
cloth suit that never was intended for
so small Il ,nan =
Miilard Fillmore was OF roma rlsably
attractive personal appearances n man
OF grace and polished manners, above
INC medium III size. and we'll dressed
gentleman. There was nothing con-