Twice round the clock; or, The hours of the day and night in London . her Majestys Theatre reckoned among its audience, since the dayswhen, in spotless white waistcoat, and creaseless cravat, with a silverbuckle behind, the great duke was wont to make his bow at the courtof Euterpe, not because, honest man, he cared much for operas, Italianor English, but because he considered it to be a matter of duty towardsthat aristocracy of which, though a premier duke, he was the prince,to show himself in their places of resort. He went everywhere, thebrave old boy, to balls and concerts, to routs and ba
Twice round the clock; or, The hours of the day and night in London . her Majestys Theatre reckoned among its audience, since the dayswhen, in spotless white waistcoat, and creaseless cravat, with a silverbuckle behind, the great duke was wont to make his bow at the courtof Euterpe, not because, honest man, he cared much for operas, Italianor English, but because he considered it to be a matter of duty towardsthat aristocracy of which, though a premier duke, he was the prince,to show himself in their places of resort. He went everywhere, thebrave old boy, to balls and concerts, to routs and banquets. In thehouse of feasting, when the goblets were wreathed with flowers, andthe cymbals clashed, there was Duke Arthur, long after his gums weretoothless, his eyes dim, his joints stiffened, and the drums of his earsmuffled. And, next morning, at eight oclock, you would still see himon duty, at early service, in St. Jamess Church, reading out the re-sponses to the Psalms as though they were words of command. HER, MAJESTY S THEATRE, AND A PAWNBROKER S SHOP. 257. 2£3 TVriCE HOUND THE CLOCK. There, in her family box, is the still beautiful marchioness, withthat crop of ringlets unequalled in luxuriance. There, in the stalls, isCaptain Fitzblazer, the Duke of Almas aide-de-camp, whom we met•behind the scenes an hour since. Jemmy Fitzblazer—he isalways known as Jemmy, though there are not half-a-dozen men ofhis acquaintance who would presume thus familiarly to address him tohis face—is getting very middle-aged and gray-headed now. He is notslim enough in the waist. Adonis is growing fat. Narcissus has thegout. Lesbians sparrow is moulting. A sad reflection, but so runs theworld. I should be wilfully deceiving you, and unworthy the name I havebeen always striving to gain—that of a faithful chronicler—if I were tolead you to imagine that the brilliant theatre is full only of rank, fashion,wealth, and happiness. Are any of the terms I have used synonymous,I wonder. Ther
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Keywords: ., bookauthormcconnel, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookyear1859
