The gorgeous liveries and sumptuous garments of the reign of Louis XV.

speedily replaced the military dress which even civilians had worn under the warlike Republic.

High boots, sabres, and regimental headgear gave way to buckled shoes, silk stockings, Court rapiers, and light hats, the last generally held under the arm.
Tricolour cockades were discarded, along with the revolutionary jargon which _thou'd_ and _citizen'd_ everyone; and men began to purge their speech of some of the obscene terms which had haunted clubs and camps.
It was remarked, however, that the First Consul still clung to the use of the term _citizen_, and that amidst the surprising combinations of colours that flecked his Court, he generally wore only the uniform of a colonel of grenadiers or of the light infantry of the consular guard.

This conduct resulted partly from his early dislike of luxury, but partly, doubtless, from a conviction that republicans will forgive much in a man who, like Vespasian, discards the grandeur which his prowess has won, and shines by his very plainness.

To trifling matters such as these Napoleon always attached great importance; for, as he said to Admiral Malcolm at St.Helena: "In France trifles are great things: reason is nothing."[179] Besides, genius so commanding as his little needed the external trappings wherewith ordinary mortals hide their nullity.