Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original SourcesAshton, John
History
Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, Taken from Original Sources
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- History -- Anne, 1702-1714; Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 18th century
Brown, also, has plenty to say about them, but one short extract only
will be borrowed: 'Every Coffee House is illuminated both without and
within doors; without by a fine glass Lantern, and within by a Woman
so light and splendid, you may see through her without the help of a
Perspective. At the Bar the good Man always places a Charming Phillis
or two, who invite you by their amorous glances into their smoaky
Territories, to the loss of your sight.' These 'pretty barmaids' are
spoken of by Steele[295]: 'Upon reading your late Dissertation
concerning _Idols_, I cannot but complain to you that there are, in
Six or Seven Places of this City, Coffee houses kept by Persons of
that Sisterhood. These _Idols_ sit and receive all Day long the
adoration of the Youth within such and such Districts,' etc. Another
contemporary[296] notices that 'A Handsom Bar keeper invites more than
the Bush. She's the Loadstone that attracts Men of Steel, both those
that wear it to some purpose, and those that wear it to none. No City
Dame is demurer than she at first Greeting, nor draws in her Mouth
with a Chaster Simper; but in a little time you may be more familiar,
and she'll hear a double Entendre without blushing.'
[Footnote 295: _Spectator_, No. 87.]
[Footnote 296: _Hickelty Pickelty._]
Steele[297] gives a polished account of coffee-house frequenters and
politicians: 'I, who am at the Coffee house at Six in a Morning, know
that my friend _Beaver_ the Haberdasher has a Levy of more
undissembled Friends and Admirers, than most of the Courtiers or
Generals of Great Britain. Every Man about him has, perhaps, a News
Paper in his Hand; but none can pretend to guess what Step will be
taken in any one Court of Europe, till Mr. _Beaver_ has thrown down
his Pipe, and declares what Measures the Allies must enter into upon
this new Posture of Affairs. Our Coffee House is near one of the Inns
of Court, and _Beaver_ has the Audience and Admiration of his
Neighbours from Six 'till within a Quarter of Eight, at which time he
is interrupted by the Students of the House; some of whom are ready
dress'd for Westminster, at Eight in a Morning, with Faces as busie as
if they were retained in every Cause there; and others come in their
Night Gowns to saunter away their Time, as if they never designed to
go thither. I do not know that I meet in any of my Walks, Objects
which move both my Spleen and laughter so effectually, as these young
Fellows at the Grecian, Squire's, Searle's, and all other Coffee
Houses adjacent to the Law, who rise early for no other purpose but to
publish their Laziness. One would think these young _Virtuosos_ take a
gay Cap and Slippers, with a Scarf and Party Coloured Gown, to be
Ensigns of Dignity, for the vain things approach each other with an
Air, which shews they regard one another for their Vestments.... When
the Day grows too busie for these Gentlemen to enjoy any longer the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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