Eighteenth century vignettes, second series - Softcover

Reseña del editor

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1894 Excerpt: ... RANELAGH. HE pleasure-loving'prenticeof the last century when, in Chepe or Fleet, he put up his shutters, and put on his sword, can seldom have been at a loss for amusement. Not only had every inn on the outskirts of the sign-haunted City its skittle-ground, or bowling-green, or ninepin alley, where he might doff his tarnished galadress, perch his scratch wig upon a post (as he does in Mr. Edwin Abbey's charming pictures), and cultivate to his heart's content the mysteries of managing a bowl with one hand and a long 'churchwarden' with the other, but nearly every village within a mile or two of Paul's boasted its famous summer garden, presenting its peculiar and specific programme of diversions--diversions which included the enviable distinction of rubbing elbows with the quality, and snatching, for a space, the fearful joy of' Bon Ton.' At Pentonville there was the White Conduit House, upon whose celebrated cakes and cream Dr. Oliver Goldsmith had once the misfortune of entertaining a party of ladies, and of then finding himself--like Senor Patricio in Le Sage--without the wherewithal to pay the reckoning; at Islington there was Sadler's Wells, where you might not only genteelly discuss the ' killibeate' (as Mr. Weller's friend called it), but regale yourself with the supplementary and gratuitous recreation of' balancemasters, walking on the wire, rope-dancing, tumbling, and pantomime entertainments.' At Bagnigge Wells, in what is now the King's Cross Road, you might, after being received at the Assembly Room by a dignified Master of the Ceremonies with a Cocked Hat, enjoy, to the sound of an organ, the refreshment (with gilt spoons) of tea, which would be handed to you by a page with a kettle, like Pompey in the second plate of Hogarth's'Harlot's Progress...