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Page 13
O, for the garb that mark'd the boy!
The trousers made of corduroy.
Well ink'd with black and red;
The crownless hat, ne'er deem'd an ill--
It only let the sunshine still
Repose upon my head!
O, for that small, small beer anew!
And (heaven's own type) that mild sky-blue
That wash'd my sweet meals down!
The master even!--and that small turk
That fagg'd me!--worse is now my work,--
A fag; for all the town!
The "Arabian Nights'" rehears'd in bed!
The "Fairy Tales" in school-time read
By stealth, 'twixt verb and noun!
The angel form that always walk'd
In all my dreams, and look'd, and talk'd.
Exactly like Miss Brown!
The _omne bene_--Christmas come!
The prize of merit, won for home'--
Merit had prizes then!
But now I write for days and days
For fame--a deal of empty praise,
Without the silver pen.
Then home, sweet home! the crowded coach--
The joyous shout--the loud approach--
The winding horn like ram's!
The meeting sweet that made me thrill,
The sweetmeats almost sweeter still,
No "_satis_" to the "_jams!_"
* * * * *
ENGLISH DRESS.
(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.)
Mr. Editor.--In No. 200 of the MIRROR, you will find an article,
entitled _Female Fashions during the early part of the Last
Century_. The author then promised to give a description of the dress
of the English gentlemen of the same period, but as no such description
has _yet_ appeared in your pages, I trust you will insert the
annexed at your first convenient opportunity.
G.W.N.
_Dress of the English Gentlemen during the Early part of the Last
Century._
In the reign of King William III., the English gentlemen affected to
dress like their dependents. Their hats were laced, and their coats and
waistcoats were embroidered with gold and silver fringe; indeed it
really became extremely difficult to distinguish a man of quality from
one of his lackeys. They did not, however, long persevere in this
ridiculous imitation, for they soon afterwards, like the ladies,
servilely followed the French fashions. The great partiality of the
English _beau monde_ towards the _bon ton_ of France, was a
wonderful advantage to that country--an advantage which the English
government in vain endeavoured to abolish, although a heavy duty was
imposed on all French ribbon and lace imported into this kingdom. Many
millions were annually expended in French cambric, muslin, ribbon, and
lace, which useless expenditure very sensibly injured our commercial
transactions with other nations.
Perukes and long wigs were worn at the revolution; but these being
greatly inconvenient in all weathers, some people _tied up_ their
wigs, which was the first occasion of short wigs coming into fashion.
Some few years afterwards, bob-wigs were adopted by the gentlemen,
especially by those of the army and the navy.
The English costume was remarkably neat and plain anterior to the year
1748; at which period, however, all gentlemen rather resembled military
officers than private individuals, for their coats were not only richly
embroidered with gold and silver, but they even assumed the cockade in
their hats, and carried _long_ rapiers at their sides. At length this
imposing attire was adopted by the merchants and tradesmen of the
metropolis, and soon afterwards by the most notorious rogues and
pickpockets in town, so that when any person with a laced coat, a
cockade, and a sword, walked along the streets of London, it was
absolutely impossible to determine whether he affected to be thought a
nobleman, a military officer, a tradesman, or a pickpocket, for he bore
an equal resemblance to each of these characters.
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