Fifty years ago . resting,praiseworthy, well-bred creature ; but you could notclaim to be in society. Nothing could be more , everybody ardently desired to be seen atAlmacks. This, however, was not in everybodyspower. Almacks, for instance, was far more exclusivethan the Court. EifF-rafF might go to Court; but theycould not get to Almacks, for at its gates there stood,not one angel with a fiery sword, but six in the shapeof English ladies, terrible in turbans, splendid in dia-monds, magnificent in satin, and awful in rank. They were the Ladies Jersey, Londonderry, Cowper,Brownl
Fifty years ago . resting,praiseworthy, well-bred creature ; but you could notclaim to be in society. Nothing could be more , everybody ardently desired to be seen atAlmacks. This, however, was not in everybodyspower. Almacks, for instance, was far more exclusivethan the Court. EifF-rafF might go to Court; but theycould not get to Almacks, for at its gates there stood,not one angel with a fiery sword, but six in the shapeof English ladies, terrible in turbans, splendid in dia-monds, magnificent in satin, and awful in rank. They were the Ladies Jersey, Londonderry, Cowper,Brownlow, Willoughby dEresby, and Euston. Theseladies formed the dreaded Committee. They decided IN SOCIETY i5 who should be admitted within the circle ; all apphca-tions had to be made direct to them; no one wasallowed to bring friends. Those who desired to go tothe balls—Heavens! what lady did not ardently desire?—were obliged to send in a personal request to beallowed the honour. Not only this, but they were also. ^. <m^ \\ -^^ A SKETCH IN THE PARK — THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON AND MRS. ARBUTHNOT obliged to send for the answer, which took the form ofa voucher—-that is, a ticket—or a simple refusal, fromwhich there was no appeal. Gentlemen were admittedin the same way, and by the same mode of application,as the ladies. In their case, it is pleasing to add, someregard was paid to character as well as to birth andrank, so that if a man openly and flagrantly insulted I 2 ii6 FIFTY YEARS AGO society he was supposed not to be admitted; but oneasks with some trembhng how far such rigour wouldbe extended towards a young and unmarried was a sort of Eoyal Academy of Society, theAcademic diploma being represented by the admittedcandidates pedigree, his family connections, and hisfamily shield. The heartburnings, jealousies, and mad-dening envies caused by this exclusive circle were, Itake it, the cause of its decline and fall. Trade, evenof the grandest and most successf
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Keywords: ., bookauthorwordsworthcollection, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880
