New-York tribune., 1901-07-13
EIGHTY YEARS AGO.
ODDITIES OF ENGLISH LIFE AND So
CIETY.
THE "REMINISCENCES OF MISS LOUISA coURTE-
NAY-HER FRIENDS AND SOME OF
THEIR SAYINGS.

From The Cornhill Magazine
Some OF the inconvenience of the dress OF
eighty years ago can hardly be realized now
adays; the universal low bodices sometimes
with tippet. sometimes without and always
fastened up the back. which raade IL impos-
sible To dress without assistance. and the fra
giiity OF the white muslins and lawns most gen
orally worn, even in winter. Perhaps our feet
were the most helpless. shod always in low
shoes and sandals. both In and out Of doors
The husband or young friend of
always much annoyed II his wife's shoestiings
came united when they We're odt walking to-
gether. He at last threatened as they were
on without her II IL happened again. They lived
in Grosvenor-st.. and before reaching the square
a passerby said Your shoestrinss are untied
ma am pointing TO the two long black rib
bons trailing on the ground. The lady ste pp-d
to tie them, and her husband. true to his word.
walked on. nut waited around the corner. Just
out Of her sight. What hts horror 10 see
his wife suddenly run across the street and hit
a strange gentleman a smart blow on the back
crying, You wretch. why didn't you walt for
meT The soles Of our outdoor shoes were
thicker. hut l can remember the time when
even CATERS, a novelty from France. had not
made their appearance while boots another
Partisan innovation, and called bottines with
cloth tops. came some years later. On the other
hand. taste was simpler and dress cheaper Girls
never wore silk Of an evening. and the best
Paris dressmaker charged six or seven guineas
for a dress which now costs twelve or fourteen
A young lady never wore q wreath, only a
flower. In her hair until her marriage My
father wore q iabrt. and always dressed in black
dileI my UloLner ue0tN, nlS hats of bpa-
YER. and for evening dress his trousers were
made tight to the ankle and called partaloors
His friends wore coats OF divers cocrs. blue
cloth with brass buttons being the most usual.
THE CoMFORTABLE SEDAN CHAIR
The inconveniences OF dress were as nothing
to the difficulty of getting about in those da ys;
II was impossible for q lady 10 walk abroad un-
attended-even the short distance to church on
Sundays she was followed by a servant carry
Ing her prayer book. | am free TO CON
fess that my favorte mode OF conveyance in
towns was the sedan chair. How else could enc
be certain. even in the most bo!cIerouS weather
to arrive at ones destination dry warm ana
tidy, nipped up was in ones own hall
and set down in that Of the house where ones
dinner or ball was going en-? Edinburgh arG
Bath were the last places where Was thus con
veyed to evening parties; In Londou the sedan
chair had just become extinct. Travelling was
expensive that gentlemen thought twice be-
fore accepting an invitation for weeks shoot
ing.
When the twopenny London postofflce was
established it not etiquette to make use
of 1t for private letters and l remember my
fathers annoyance when a stupid footman had
posted letter to Sir Robert Peel instead OF
sending it by groom. 1T seems so impairment
to send private letter to a man like Sir Rob
ert Peel by post" Invitations and their answers
were always sent by hand.
The drinking and swearing habits OF those
days did not come much under my personal OBJ
servation. and yet | saw enough OF them to an
Ireciate the Improvement that has taken place
since then. Gentlemen We're often tipsy at balls
and remember on one occasion my partner not
had Just led him away tipsy. Scotland was far
worse than England, and New Years Day
at Edinburgh l did not sober man in
the streets. Swearing was almost universal and
I have heard oaths drop from the lips of peer
esses. One old general of our acquaintance was
inve:erate a swearer that clergyman friend
of his implored him 10 ct least render his ex-
pletives harmless by substituting the words
"corks and bottles" for his habitual oaths
had q parrot at the time, and taught him TO
say "corks and bottles" One day the general
came to call. and soon broke out into his old
habit upon which the parrot from the next room
cried, "Oh. fe. General, say 'corks and bottles
GLIMPSE OF LADY MORGAN
have said that Sir Charles and Lady Morgan
were among our oldest and most valued friends
and at their little house in Willam-st one met
many OF the most distinguished members of
English society Lady Morgan had In
herted none of her father Robert Owenson's
good looks. The latter had been a remarkably
handsome man, and the near relative OF Oliver
at the commencement of his career as an actor
and perhaps to this relationship Lady Morgan
may have owed something of hei literary talent
She had rather broad face. thoroughly Irish
in expression and feature, and the description
given of her by one who had known her In Dub
lin before she'settled In London was faithful
one except regarded the "wig'-she had
abundant and still dark hair to the last Hardly
more than four feet high, with slightly curved
SpluA 0nAVnn 1hDul6nrn ana ayAn. LADY Narrs