London at the End of the Century:A Book of Gossip
a Beckett, Arthur William
1900
INCONVENIENT COSTUMES.
Of course, those who desire to compete for prizes at will have to expend a good deal of ingenuity, and possibly no little expense, in contriving a dress likely to attract the favourable notice of the powers that be. I have seen before now a gentleman labouring slowly through a giddy throng in the substantial costume of a bust upon a pedestal, and another masker in the garb of a lay figure. The latter was extremely well conceived and carried out. But those who make these attempts after realism should be blessed with the best of good tempers. I frankly confess that I have never appeared as an artist's model myself, and I have no desire to try my luck in such an assumption. I have been credibly informed that he who appears as an animated life-sized doll has to display considerable dexterity in preserving his balance, for a push accidental or the reverse may upset his equilibrium. Such a disastrous pressure is calculated to cause an angry remonstrance from the meekest of men, and savage words emanating from a benevolent mask are likely to | |
220 | produce more laughter than sympathy. Many years ago, when I was allowed to appear in amateur theatricals, I was permitted to fill the not very important of in . Thinking that my excellent abilities had been unfairly ignored, I introduced a little into my part that certainly would have provoked the hostile criticism of the author, my valued friend, the late Tom Taylor. A relative who was as a dissolute trooper in Percy Kirke's offered a remonstrance and told me in irate tones These words, spoken by a gentleman whose face (with the kind assistance of the Clarkson of the period) bore a stereotyped drunken grin, were irresistibly comic, and deeply as I regretted that I should have given him just cause for complaint, I could not help indulging in exuberant merriment. The more he stormed the more I roared, and had we been a few years younger I fear that the interview would have ended with fisticuffs. So I have reasons for counselling those who adopt elaborate or eccentric toilettes to keep their temper. It is almost impossible (under provocation) to preserve a dignified demeanour if you happen to be successfully suggesting a village pump or a humanised lobster. Even Macready made up as would have been at a disadvantage in the midst of a crowd |
221 | of wearing the of modern evening dress. At least, such is my opinion after reading the life of the Great Tragedian. But, of course, I offer that opinion for what it is worth. |
