The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-06
BITH ,SSEHBLIES RETUED.
New s~vte. ~ FuResIons In Besu Nash's
FamOa~ Pump RsSm.

The famous ASSEMBLIES Of Bath the
most ceiebrsted social hInct ons Of their
time have been revived These brilliant
Affairs owed their origin TO B@su Nash
the King - Bath He became master
ut ceremonies a. the fine old English
resort la 1904 on the death Of Webster
The first assembly room was built bv
Hsrri-On ~ Nssh's suggestion in iTOs
IN the gardens known a. Harrison's Walks
and was called HarrisOn'- rooms and
Hfterwsrd Gydes simpsons. &r This
venture proved 80 successful that II was
followed in I52s by Mr. Thayer. who
erected snot her large room called Wilt
-hire's Rooms. where the weekly halls
were held alternately until i75i
Then the new assembly rooms 1.-THE
upper were opened by the younger
Wood aud gra iually superseded the
lower. while eventually they were the
only assembly roonl= in existence a. the
lower were destroyed 5v fire in 1871
Under the direction of Beau Ns-h two
halls wore held each week. paid for by
the gentlemen. each ~ whom was en-
titled 20 invite three lady guests. These
balls were held on Tuesdays and Fridays
beginning punctually ., 9 O'Clock and
ending at ~. says the Queen. 80 that in
valid- might not Ne tempted to sit up too
late
In fact Nash vas 50 iInp~rstiveIy pune
tIal that the band ceased on the stroke Of
u. and even the pleading ~ Princes
Amelia, daughter Of George H.. during
her Stav AT Bath when a woman ~ Is
failed Ia break through the inc Norsble
rule
A. time wen; on and Nashs power over
the ever changing hut always fashionable
throng who fTequented Bath throughout
the -sason became moro and more abso-
lutte the laws became more extensive aud
precise, and in i1t2 he hung code up in
the pump room which vas obviously
intended To promote kind feeling aud
good manners.
One curious custom was the dancing
Of the minuet which began puncttIally
az O'Clock and continued for two hours.
only One couple dancing at n time. wbile
all the company sat on The benches round
the walls critiCising and woe bstide tInt
d%butante Who faltered ia her steps
A. the end n the mtnuet the " &. led
forth a second lady. with whom the same
gentleman danced n second minuet
then after this q second couple came
i~ic- in saccsssion' When he minu@ts
we're finished the country dances began.
the ladies e rank dancing first in order
u precedence
This continued. with an interval for
tea and light refreshments. until ~
O'Clock. when Nash coming IN from the
card room where play ran high. raised
one finger and the hand ceased on the
instant. The power he welded was set
to improve the tone and manners 81 50
ci~ty, which when he died I'm l7ai was
polished and perhaps artificial hut Of q
charming artihciality. a time Of ceremonial
and strict social observances. which later
ageN might do we'll IN initiate.
The ball u amusement set rolling by
Nash cOntintssd TO revolve. though with
slower and DeNs sparkling revolutions.
under successive NJ. e. = until the begin
ming 81 the ninsteonth century. Queen
Charlotte. visiting the city IN IsI7 for
the purpose ~ drinking the waters WAS
lmpeIled 60 say some time, ana q little
later. In lH27. when Dickens came here.
II was still a very lively pleasant place.
Later the RAyoty % thee festivities
declining, they fell into desuetsIde and .
periOd % DUNES and inaction ct in,
from which modern Bath has ~ last
emerged, and IN the twentieth century
n revivin9 the kboTies q her past Under
the direction o. Major Simpson. Who "
Mayor and also mAaeer az tie ceremonies
there was instituted on January ~ . re-
incarnation az the on bath aamenblies
Every fortnight a hAll and ccnceTf, With
q room ct apart for cnrds. win ~ held
In Tie Pump Room and Romp1 Promenads
q most brilliant f'rncttoD.