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slender； clean…shaven youth； in very tight unmentionables strapped under
his feet； a dark green frock…coat with a collar up to the ears and a stock
whose folds cover his chest； butter…colored gloves； and a hat … oh！ a hat
that would collect a crowd in two minutes in any neighborhood！ A gold…
headed stick； and a quizzing glass； with a black ribbon an inch wide；
complete the toilet。 In such a rig did the swells of the last generation stroll
down Pall Mall or drive their tilburys in the Bois。
The recent illness of the Prince de Sagan has made a strange and sad
impression in many circles in Paris； for he has always been a favorite； and
is the last surviving type of a now extinct species。 He is the last Dandy！
No understudy will be found to fill his role … the dude and the swell are
whole generations away from the dandy； of which they are but feeble
reflections … the comedy will have to be continued now； without its leading
gentleman。 With his head of silvery hair； his eye…glass and his wonderful
waistcoats； he held the first place in the 〃high life〃 of the French capital。
No first night or ball was complete without him； Sagan。 The very
mention of his name in their articles must have kept the wolf from the
door of needy reporters。 No DEBUTANTE； social or theatrical； felt sure of
her success until it had received the hall…mark of his approval。 When he
assisted at a dress rehearsal； the actors and the managers paid him more
attention than Sarcey or Sardou； for he was known to be the real arbiter of
their fate。 His word was law； the world bowed before it as before the will
of an autocrat。 Mature matrons received his dictates with the same
reverence that the Old Guard evinced for Napoleon's orders。 Had he not
led them on to victory in their youth？
On the boulevards or at a race…course； he was the one person always
known by sight and pointed out。 〃There goes Sagan！〃 He had become an
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institution。 One does not know exactly how or why he achieved the
position； which made him the most followed； flattered； and copied man of
his day。 It certainly was unique！
The Prince of Sagan is descended from Maurice de Saxe （the natural
son of the King of Saxony and Aurora of Koenigsmark）； who in his day
shone brilliantly at the French court and was so madly loved by Adrienne
Lecouvreur。 From his great ancestor； Sagan inherited the title of Grand
Duke Of Courland （the estates have been absorbed into a neighboring
empire）。 Nevertheless； he is still an R。H。； and when crowned heads visit
Paris they dine with him and receive him on a footing of equality。 He
married a great fortune； and the daughter of the banker Selliere。 Their
house on the Esplanade des Invalides has been for years the centre of
aristocratic life in Paris； not the most exclusive circle； but certainly the
gayest of this gay capital； and from the days of Louis Philippe he has
given the keynote to the fast set。
Oddly enough； he has always been a great favorite with the lower
classes （a popularity shared by all the famous dandies of history）。 The
people appear to find in them the personification of all aspirations toward
the elegant and the ideal。 Alcibiades； Buckingham； the Duc de Richelieu；
Lord Seymour； Comte d'Orsay； Brummel； Grammont…Caderousse； shared
this favor； and have remained legendary characters； to whom their disdain
for everything vulgar； their worship of their own persons； and many costly
follies gave an ephemeral empire。 Their power was the more arbitrary and
despotic in that it was only nominal and undefined； allowing them to rule
over the fashions； the tastes； and the pastimes of their contemporaries with
undivided sway； making them envied； obeyed； loved； but rarely
overthrown。
It has been asserted by some writers that dandies are necessary and
useful to a nation （Thackeray admired them and pointed out that they have
a most difficult and delicate role to play； hence their rarity）； and that these
butterflies； as one finds them in the novels of that day； the de Marsys； the
Pelhams； the Maxime de Trailles； are indispensable to the perfection of
society。 It is a great misfortune to a country to have no dandies； those
supreme virtuosos of taste and distinction。 Germany； which glories in
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Worldly Ways and Byways
Mozart and Kant； Goethe and Humboldt； the country of deep thinkers and
brave soldiers； never had a great dandy； and so has remained behind
England or France in all that constitutes the graceful side of life； the
refinements of social intercourse； and the art of living。 France will
perceive too late； after he has disappeared； the loss she has sustained when
this Prince； Grand Seigneur； has ceased to embellish by his presence her
race…courses and 〃first nights。〃 A reputation like his cannot be improvised
in a moment； and he has no pupils。
Never did the aristocracy of a country stand in greater need of such a
representation； than in these days of tramcars and 〃fixed… price〃
restaurants。 An entire 〃art〃 dies with him。 It has been whispered that he
has not entirely justified his reputation； that the accounts of his exploits as
a HAUT VIVEUR have gained in the telling。 Nevertheless he dominated
an epoch； rising above the tumultuous and levelling society of his day； a
tardy Don Quixote； of the knighthood of pleasures； FETES； loves and
prodigalities； which are no longer of our time。 His great name； his grand
manner； his elderly graces； his serene carelessness； made him a being by
himself。 No one will succeed this master of departed elegances。 If he does
not recover from his attack； if the paralysis does not leave that poor brain；
worn out with doing nothing； we can honestly say that he is the last of his
kind。
An original and independent thinker has asserted that civilizations；
societies； empires； and republics go down to posterity typified for the
admiration of mankind； each under the form of some hero。 Emerson would
have given a place in his Pantheon to Sagan。 For it is he who sustained the
traditions and beca