The Merry Past 



smilingly accepting the casual caress of any gay 

 captain who chanced to cross her path. Indeed, 

 were the damsels of to-day to be treated as those 

 of the eighteenth century are in some of the artist's 

 designs, many an admirer would probably be quickly 

 afforded the option of paying forty shillings or a 

 month for assault. The girls of the past, however, 

 do not appear to have much minded anything, 

 provided it was connected with love-making, though 

 they well knew how to treat suitors who were not to 

 their taste. 



About 1780 the West End of London was full of 

 rollicking blades much given to accosting any pretty 

 girl whom they might meet. Such was the danger 

 at this time to which unprotected females were ex- 

 posed, that the mistresses of boarding-schools found 

 it necessary to advertise " that the young ladies 

 were not permitted to go abroad without proper 

 attendants." Nevertheless, most of them seem to 

 have been well able to take care of themselves. 



A young lady walking along with her eyes cast 

 upon the ground, a rude fellow accosted her with, 

 " Pray, madam, what are you looking for ? " " A 

 puppy," was the reply, " and now I have found 

 him." 



A young married lady who displayed considerable 

 presence of mind was, however, once placed in a 

 very awkward position by an impudent thief. 



Entering her bedroom one evening she found, to 

 her consternation, that a thief was there : she rushed 

 out of the room and returned with help. 



265 



