Punch (63.1872)

THE SEASON.

The ordinary manuals of useful information grossly mislead the
public by limiting the number of the Seasons to four ; the fact being
that there are five—Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and the
London Season. The ordinary manuals were probably compiled by
persons of the scholastic profession, ignorant of Society, indifferent
about gloves, and with no experience either of a Matinee Musicale
or an Afternoon Drum.

The circumstance of Thomson not including the London Season in
the poem he composed on a kindred topic, shows plainly that in his
time (and Thomson, it should be remembered, was contemporary
with Johnson, Smith, and Bbown) it had not acquired that im-
portance which it now possesses in the eyes of every one who has
not forfeited all claim to self-respect. Some fragments, however,
were found amongst Thomson's papers which led his executors to
think that he had originally contemplated bringing the "lovely
young Lavinia" (see E,oyal Academy, Gallery L, No. 75) to Town,
and finding her a fine match.

_ The exact height of the London Season has never yet been posi-
tively ascertained; but pending the appointment of a Royal Com-
mission, with a paid Secretary, to inquire into this subject, it may
be safely assumed that the Season has reached its altimatum by the
time of Goodwood Races.

The London Season can be traced back to the days of the amiable
and universally respected Tudors. Heney the Eighth's arrange-
ments about his Queens were so uncertain, that fashionable society
in that monarch's reign was more than once left without its natural
head; arid, consequently, drawing-rooms appear to have been sub-
ject to considerable irregularity and unavoidable postponement. At
a subsequent period in our dynastic history Henrietta Maeia could
never prevail on Chabees the Fiest to look in at five o'clock tea (or
rather coffee, for the Queen brought that infusion with her from
La Belle France), and Ceomwell, although he rode in the Row,
declined evening parties, and had what almost amounted to an
antipathy to a starched white neckerchief.

As far back as the time of the Union, matrimonial projects had
assumed an important place in the arrangements of' a London
Season.

The Joelwoeths returned home to Musemore rather knocked up

with their ten days in Town. During that short space of time they
went to the Royal Academy, the International Exhibition, the
Kensington and Bethnal Green Museums, the Albert Hall, the
Crystal Palace, both the Water Colour Societies, the Doee Gallery,
the Zoological Gardens, twice to the Opera, thrice to the Theatre,
the House of Commons, and Loed's, and to concerts, pianoforte
recitals, Matinees Musicales, balls, dinner-parties, garden-parties,
fancy fairs, flower shows, and fireworks. The General was more
than once unconscious during the performance of Glumm's grand
classic opera, ClyUmnestra, and Mes. Joblwoeth expressed thank-
fulness (to herself) when that last long septet at Heee Loeden-
stein's Musical Rendezvous came to an end.

Various trades and professions are more or less dependent on the
London Season. It has great interest for hotel-keepers, florists,
fruiterers, poulterers, politicians, livery-stable-keepers, butchers,
pigeon-shooters, diners-out, whist-players, opera-singers, begging-
letter-writers, dog-fanciers, waiters, and mateh-makers.

There is one painful subject connected with the London Season to
which it has long been evident that the attention of the Legislature
must in the end be drawn. Indeed, it is understood that the Home
Office have now under consideration the propriety of introducing, at
an early period next Session before the commencement of another
Season, an Habitual Flirts Improvement Bill.

Is Society growing later and later in its habits, or are those who
compose it about to reform their ways, seriously impressed with the
truth of the venerable adage that early to bed and early to rise
makes us all healthy, and wealthy, and prevents red eyes? It
seems necessary to ask this question at the present time, because a
farewell benefit, which is under very Royal and aristocratic patron-
age, is announced to take place atDruryLane Theatre " on Saturday
morning, July 6, 1872, at three o'clock." Clearly, London is not
the capital of that land "in which it seemed always afternoon."
These remarks gracefully introduce another, which Mr. Punch
willingly steps out of his accustomed way to deliver. We would
say gladly, but he is not at all glad that Me. and Mes. Alfekd
Wigan are going to retire from the stage. On the contrary, it cau
very ill afford to lose a gentleman whose art is of the very highest,
and a lady whose talent has adorned every character she has under-
taken. But since they are to go, let their departure be made a
famous one. The date we have given, and the rendezvous. All
lovers of true histrionic art will try to be present.

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Vol. 63.