Every one knew him, and he really addressed the whole car—though he affected to speak to me. But he meant to have every one hear—& they did. He said substantially this,—
“The most important order since the war began has been issued at the War Department this morning.
“Directions have been given for the manufacture of a thousand pair of Red Breeches. They are to be patterned on the Red Trousers of the Zouaves—and are to be the uniform of the First Negro Regiment.” He surprised the car—(as he meant to).
Now, 1. I cannot fix the date, can you?
2. Were the negro troops or any regiment of them ever clothed in the Zouave Uniform?
I remember there was a “Zouave” Regiment from New York City—
[I had the pleasure of informing him that my regiment, which he mentions, had been the only one disfigured by the scarlet trousers, which were fortunately very soon worn out and gladly banished. This was in August, 1862.]
It may be well enough to end these extracts from his correspondence with one of those bits of pure nonsense in which his impetuous nature delighted. This was on occasion of his joining the Boston Authors’ Club:—
Roxbury, Mass., April 10, 1903.
Dear Higginson,—One sometimes does what there is no need of doing. What we call here a Duke of Northumberland day is a day when one does what he darn chooses to do, without reference to the obligations of the social order. Such is to-day.