In a political campaign, Lincoln once replied to Colonel Richard Taylor,
a self-conceited, dandified man, who wore a gold chain and ruffled
shirt. His party at that time was posing as the hard-working bone and
sinew of the land, while the Whigs were stigmatized as aristocrats,
ruffled-shirt gentry. Taylor making a sweeping gesture, his overcoat
became torn open, displaying his finery. Lincoln in reply said, laying
his hand on his jeans-clad breast:
“Here is your aristocrat, one of your silk-stocking gentry, at your
service.” Then, spreading out his hands, bronzed and gaunt with toil:
“Here is your rag-basin with lily-white hands. Yes, I suppose, according
to my friend Taylor, I am a bloated aristocrat.”