squelched Webb at least for the time being. Webb on Jan- uary 27, 1844, published the following editorial in The Courier and Enquirer:
The editor of The Tribune would have all the world live upon bran- bread and sawdust. He seeks for notoriety by pretending to great ec- centricity of character and habits, and by the strangeness of his theories and practices; we, on the contrary, are content with following the beaten path, and accomplishing the good we can, in the old-fashioned way. He lays claim to greatness by wandering through the streets with a hat double the size of his head, a coat after the fashion of Jacob's of old, with one leg of his pantaloons inside and the other outside of his boot, and with boots all bespattered with mud, or possibly, a shoe on one foot and boot on the other, and glorying in an unwashed and un- shaven person. We, on the contrary, eschew all such affectation as weak and silly; we think there is a difference between notoriety and distinction; we recognize the social obligation to act and dress ac- cording to our station in life; and we look upon cleanliness of person as inseparable from purity of thought and benevolence of heart. In short, there is not the slightest resemblance between the editor of The Tribune and ourself, politically, morally, or socially; and it is only when his affectation and impudence are unbearable, that we condescend to notice him or his press.
Greeley, equal to the occasion, on the next day printed the following reply in The Tribune:
It is true that the Editor of The Tribune chooses mainly (not entirely) vegetable food; but he never troubles his readers on the subject; it does not worry them; why should it concern the Colonel? It is hard for phi- losophy that so humble a man shall be made to stand as its exemplar, while Christianity is personified by the hero of the Sunday duel with Hon. Tom Marshall; but such luck will happen. As to our personal appearance, it does seem tune that we should say something. Some donkey, a while ago, apparently anxious to assail or annoy the Editor of this paper, and not well knowing with what, originated the story of his carelessness of personal appearance; and since then, every block- head of the same disposition, and distressed by a similar lack of ideas, has repeated and exaggerated the foolery, until, from its origin in The Albany Microscope, it has sunk down at last to the columns of The Courier and Enquirer, growing more absurd at every landing. Yet, all this time, the object of this silly raillery has doubtless worn better clothes than two-thirds of those who thus assailed him, better than any of them could honestly wear if they paid their debts otherwise than by bankruptcy; while, if they are indeed more cleanly than he, they must
