Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-10
SOCIETY IN TIE LAST CENTURY.

Frances Burney MADAME D'Arblay), born a
Lynn Regis Norfolk, 18th June, 1852; died 1t Bath
9th January, 1910 She was the second daughter o
Dr. Charles Burney, the author of the g History o
Music" aud was for Eve years of the keepers o
the robes to Queen Charlotte. She had many op
portunities of studying society and manners, ant
her works show that she did not neglect them He
most notable productions are :" Evelina, or the his
tory Of Young Lsoys Introduction 10 the World
from which we quotel; '' Cecilia, or the Memoir
Of an Heiress - Camilla, or Picture OF Youth ;
THE Wanderer, OF Female Difficulties; and tn,
" Memoirs OF her father, Or. Burney." Her diary
published after her death, contains several valuable
sketches OF society towards the close OF the las
century. Dr. johnson said " Miss Burney is
real wonder. What she Is, she Is intu lively.
MAcauIay thought that Miss Burner did for tn,
English novel what Jeremy Collier did for the En-
giish drama She first showed that tale might b,
written which both the fashionable and the vul
gar life Of London might be exhibited with grea
force and with broad comic humor, and which yet
should not contain single line inconsistent with
rigid morality.
THE characters in the following scenes
are Mrs. Beaumont, the hostess of the
party Lady Louisa, sister OF Lord Or
vile, affected and vain, and betrothed
20 Lord Merton, dissipated man about
town, pretending to be reformed
Mr.. Coverley, a sporting gentleman
Mr.. Lowell, a fop Mrs. Selwyn, shrewi
sarcastic lady in charge Of Evelina, the
heroine, who is a beautiful and unsophisti-
Gated girl, now betrothed to Lord Orville,
a gentleman of sense and position Captain
Mirvan, retired seaman, rough, and given
to practical jokes; Maria, his daughter.
Eyelina writes
The charming city OF Bath answered all
my expectations. The Crescent, the pros.
pect from it, and the elegant symmetry OF
the Circus, delighted me. The Parades, ]
own, rather disappointed me one of them
is scarce preferable to some Of the best
paved streets in London and the other,
Enough it affords beautiful prospect, a
charming view OF Prior Park and of the
Avon, yet wanted something in itself of
more striking elegance than mere broad
pavement, TO satisfy the ideas mad formed
OF it.
At the pump.room / was amazed at the
public exhibition Of the ladies in the bath
It is true their heads are covered with bon.
nets but the very idea of being seen in
look. is indelicate.
"'Fore George" said the Captain, looking
into the bath, - this would be most excel.
lent pla:efor old Madame French to dance a
fandango IL By jingo, wouldn't wish
for better sport than to swing her round
this here pond y
.'She would be very much obliged to
you" said Lord 0rville, for so extraor.
binary mark of your favor"
"Why. to let You know, answered the
Captain, g she hit my fancy nightly; 1
never took SO much to an old tabby be-
fore"
Really, now, cried Mr.. Lowell, looking
also into the bath, :" 1 must confess it is, to
me, very incomprehensible why the ladies
choose that frightful unbecoming dress TO
battle in. / have often pondered very
seriously upon the subject, but could never
hit upon the reason"
swell, l declare" said Lady Louisa, 81
should like Of all things to set something
new agoing. / always hated bathing. be-
cause one can get no pretty dress for it
Now do, there's good creature, try to
help me TO something.
'sWho. Mel On, dear ma'am," said
he, simpering, 81 can't pretend to assist a
person Of your ladyship's taste besides, l
have not the least head for fashions
really don't think l ever invented above
three in my life. But never had the least
turn for dress-never any notion OF fancy
or elegance"
"0h, fe, Mr.. Lowell how can you talk
so? Don't we all know that you lead the
ton in the beau monde? declare, ] think
you dress better than anybody"
80 dear, ma'am, you confuse me to the
last degree ! / dress well IL protest
don't think I'm ever fit to be seen I'm
often shocked to death to think what a
figure 90. II your ladyship will believe
thinking what should put on /"
"Odds my life, cried the Captain; I"
wish I'd been near you II warrant I'd
have quickened your motions little.
Half an hour thinking what you'd put on
and who the deuce do you think cares the
snuff Of candle whether you've anything
on or not
30 pray, Captain" cried Mrs. Selwyn,
don't be angry with the gentleman for
thinking, whatever be the cause, for
assure you he makes no common practice
of offending in that way.
Really, ma'am, you're prodigiously
kind" said Mr.. Lowell, angrily.
"Prsy now," said the Captain, " did
you ever get ducking in that there place
yourself? 2"
"a ducking, sir +" repeated Mr.. Lowell,
81 protest l think that's rather an odd
term but if you mean bathing, it is an
honor 1 have had many times"
f'And pray, if body may be so bold,
what do you do with that frizzle.frize tor
of your own? Why, I'll lay you what
you will, there is fat and grease enough on
your crown to buoy you up, if you were &c
go in head downwards.
g And / don't know" cried Mrs. Sci.
wyn, " but that might be the easiest way,
for I'm sure it would be the lghtest."
sFor the matter of that there" said the
Captain, "you must make him a soldier
before you can tell which ~ lightest, head
or heels. Howsomever, I'd lay ten pounds
to shilling / could whisk him SO dex
trously over into the pool that he should
light plump upon his foretop and turr
round ike tetotum."
"Done p cried Lord Merton " / take
your odds.
!" VIII you p returned he; "why then,
fore George, I'd do it as soon as say JACK
Robinson.
HE, he /" family laughed Mr.. Lowell,
as he moved abruptly from the window
pom nonor, bnls Is peasant enough Dul
don't see what right anybody has to lay
wagers about one without ones consent. =
There, Lowell, you are out, cried Mr..
Coverley any man may lay what wager
about you he will your consent is netting
to the purpose; he may lay that your nose
is sky blue, if he pleases. Z"
"Ay,n said Mrs. Selwyn, "or that your
mind is more adorned than your person
or any absurdity whatever.
81 protest." said Mr.. Lowell, 81 think
it's a very disagreeable privilege, and
must beg that nobody may take such lib
erty with me.
q Like enough you may, cried the Cap.
tain 'sbut what's that to the purpose
Suppose I've mind to lay that you've
never tooth in your head-pray, how will
you hinder me Z"
you'll allow me, at least, sir, to take