The old tailor and the patriarch

[Gruto]

There is a very old tailor here. 90 years old. This summer he felt very lucky: the personal assistant of the Mr. Møller, the 93 year old creator of A. P. Moller-Mærsk, contacted him. Mr Moller had some old suits that needed adjustment.

The work turned out well. Mr. Møller was satisfied, and he asked the old tailor to make him a suit from scratch. Usually, Mr Moller has got his suits from London, but at the age of 93 he wanted to try a local tailor. The old tailor was more than happy. "I don't need anymore," he said. "After this, I am ready for the ultimate journey".

He went to Mr. Møller's place north of CPH with cloth books. More than once. The cloth couldn't get heavy enough. Finally, Mr. Møller decided on a dark blue worsted from Holland & Sherry. "Just like the rest of the 40 suits hanging side by side in the wardrobe," the old tailor said.

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[Costi]

Charming!

This sounds like a Maupassant short story. Pure facts, but so meaningful. You don't turn ninety and continue to work with the same commitment as if you were building your carreer unless your work has come to be an organic part of your life; not allowing oneself to idle on account of age is often what keeps one alive. You don't turn ninety-three and continue to be concerned that your suits fit your silhouette or indeed commission new ones, unless the discipline of elegant living is in your blood. Both of them have nothing to prove to anyone and it would be very easy (and pardonable) to let it all go, but that probably doesn't even cross their minds: as long as the sails are up the ship must navigate by the book.

[Gruto]

Thank you, Costi.

A photo from 1999: Mr. Moller and his successor as CEO, Mr. Søderberg. Sartorial decline? I think so!



BTW, this is the firm I am referring to, the world's largest container and shipping business: http://www.maersk.com/en - founded by Mr. Møller's father in 1912.