isa-normaladvance-1913-00170

Description:	170THE NORMAL AD V A N C Epromenade and the boudoir was finally interrupted by the dinner hour, and there was auniversal rush to Lockitts, Mans, Chattelinsand all the other fashionable ordinaries andcoffee-houses. The usual dinner-hour of thecitizens was noon the upper classes did notdine until one, while the ultra-fashionable didnot dine until four. Between the hours oftwelve and two the ordinaries and coffeehouses were greatly crowded. There every topicof the hour was discussed the latest scandalfrom Whitehall, the newest face from the.provinces, the exploits of the previous evening the breaking of tavern-drawers heads, the narrow escapes from the watch, the newest comedies, the authors and the actors. As soon asthe business of refreshment had been concluded,the business of amusement began. The playwas the thing, and as there were several theaters, that one was selected at which the newestcomedy was to be presented.The performance at the theater was announced by play-bills posted in the principalthoroughfares. It took place always in theafternoon. A trumpet, sounded thrice, gavethe signal that the play was about to begin,and a flag was hoisted on the flag-staff whichwas erected on the stage roof.Very stringent were the regulations aboutthe dress of those occupying the boxes. In thehall was stationed a master of ceremonies, whoscrutinized the audience as they passed in, andif any gentleman, who was not in full dresswith silk stockings, shoes and folding hat, attempted to enter a box he was stopped and refused admittance.The prologue was read by a personage in along, black velvet mantle and a laurel wreath,supposed to represent the poet. There werefrequently intermezzos, in which clowns playedthe fool, and improvised after the manner ofharlequin, clown, and pantaloon in the traditional part of a pantomime. Jigs were alsointroduced, corresponding .to the modern ballet, but there were no girl dancers so the jigwas danced by the clown, who accompaniedhimself with the tabor or pipe. There was always an orchestra consisting of violins, hautboys, flutes, drums, horns, and trumpets. Theplay usually lasted from two to two and one-half hours. But no gallant ever visited a-thea-ter expressly for the purpose of seeing the play.Far from it. He lounged in languid fashionthrough the Fops Corner, to be stormed by theorange girls exchanged familiar recognitionswith the wearers of vizards in the galleries—the ladies wore vizards, it is said, to concealthe blushes provoked by the free speech of theplayers of the day—-and interrupted the players occasionally with loud remarks and at lastmade his way to the side boxes to flirt with thefair occupants as long as the play continued.The attacks of the Puritans on all forms ofamusements were especially bitter as regardedthe theaters, but if for a time they succeeded inclosing the play houses the Restoration reopened them with an unbridled license formerly unknown. The Puritans, it has often beensaid, did more harm than good by their attacks on all theatrical representations. At thistime concerts began to be fashionable and fiveshilling tickets were sold in the chocolate andcoffee-houses.After the play, the gallant might wend hisway to Hyde Park to take a drive in the openair. He might eat tarts or sip syllabubs in thearbors of the Mulberry Garden, orrefresh himself with a dinner in the Mulberry GardenHouse. He might walk to Spring Gardens,near Charing Cross, and afterward partake ofall advantages of gallantry among the thick-els of the Gardens until midnight. Or hemight go into the city to keep an engagementat an India house, or in the New Exchange.Later, he could visit the houses of his ladvfriends, tattle more scandal, play more cards,conjure and romp, and afterwards go to a tavern, and conclude the night with cards, dice,dancing, and wine until he found himself lyingat full length under the table.First, something should be said concerningthe outdoor sports and pastimes of the Englishpeople of this time. Among the sports of thiskind, bowls held the first place. Both ladies
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34615
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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