The Merry Past 



Alley and Pudding Lane flocked into the West 

 End. 



Rich dresses now began to be given up ; and a 

 rapid succession of whimsical fashions, often some- 

 thing new for every day, became the distinguishing 

 badge of fashionable ladies. The industrious direct- 

 resses of the Magasins des Modes, however, rendered 

 all these measures abortive ; for the nobodies were 

 never above a day behind in their imitations, and 

 the very waiting-maids were apt to be mistaken for 

 their mxistresses. The ladies of the first fashion, 

 indeed, at one time made a bold effort, in which 

 they thought none of the middle class could have 

 the assurance to follow them ; and, in order to set 

 all competition at defiance, actually appeared in 

 public somewhat more than half naked. The enter- 

 prise, however, was not attended with that success 

 which its boldness merited ; for instantlv the whole 

 necks, arms, shoulders, and bosoms in the kingdom 

 were thrown open to the eye of the gazer. 



Fashionable men adopted a more vigorous mode of 

 revenge for the encroachments made upon their 

 dignity in the way of dress. They began by direct 

 acts of retaliation ; and as their valets and grooms 

 had most impudently aspired to their dress and 

 manners, they, in their turn, usurped the garb and 

 habits of the individuals in question. 



As the nineteenth century ripened all memory of 

 the gorgeous costumes which the aristocracy once wore 

 became dimmed, and men at the West End gradually 

 gave up wearing even the blue coats and brass buttons 



169 



