In and About Drury Lane, and Other Papers Vol. 1 (of 2): Reprinted from the pages of the 'Temple Bar' MagazineDoran, Dr. (John)
General
In and About Drury Lane, and Other Papers Vol. 1 (of 2): Reprinted from the pages of the 'Temple Bar' Magazine
Doran, Dr. (John)
London (England) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Theater -- England -- London -- Anecdotes
As for the costumes, says Jehan Valter, they who did not see the
picturesque, strange, and fantastic composition, have never seen
anything. Never was coachman so perfect a coachman as Grénier.
Never was waggoner more waggoner than Grévin. Moreover, there were
peasants from every quarter of the world, of every colour, and of
every age. There were stout market porters, incroyables, jockeys,
brigands, waltzing, schottisching, and mazourkaing; for the dance
went fast and furious on that memorable evening (or rather,
Sunday morning). And no wonder, for among the ladies were Madame
Judic, in the costume of a village bride; with Mesdames Moissier,
Gabrielle Gautier, Massart, and Gérandon, as the bridesmaids.
Alice Regnault was a châtelaine of the mediæval period, Hielbron
and Damain (the latter, the younger of the sister actresses
of that name, who played so charmingly little conversational
pieces in English drawing-rooms during the Franco-German war),
were country lasses; and, among others, were Blanche D’Antigny,
Debreux, Léontine Spelier, Esther David, Gournay, &c., &c.--in
short, all the young and pretty actresses of the capital were
present. At four o’clock in the morning a splendid supper brought
all the guests together, after which dancing was resumed till
seven. The festival terminated by the serving of a _soupe à
l’oignon à la paysanne_; this stirrup-cup of rustic onion soup was
presented in little bowls, with a wooden spoon in each! The sun
had been up a very long time before the last of the dancers, loth
to depart, had entered their carriages on their way home.
Such is the newest form in which theatrical celebrities get up and
enjoy costume-balls after their fashion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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