@Julia
Weiß nicht, wo ich folgenden Beitrag besser gepostet hätte.
Finde es passt auch zum Thema Sozialkritik, vor allem weil die englischen Janeites einen Thread bzw. eine Seite zum Almacks haben.
Der irische Poet Henry Luttrell (1766-1851) schrieb ein Gedicht zum gesellschaftlichen und fast schon politischen Stellenwert des Almacks und der Wichtigkeit der Einladungs bzw. Mitgliedsliste:
Zitat:
All on that magic List depends;
Fame, fortune, fashion, lovers, friends;
'Tis that which gratifies or vexes
All ranks, all ages, and both sexes.
If once to Almack's you belong,
Like monarchs you can do no wrong;
But banished thence on Wednesday night,
By Jove, you can do nothing right.
Über den Duke of Wellington und das Almacks kursiert ein entsprechendes Gerücht:
Zitat:
Many diplomatic arts, much finesse, and a host of intrigues, were set in motion to get an invitation to Almack's. Very often persons whose rank and fortunes entitled them to the entree anywhere, were excluded by the cliqueism of the lady patronesses; for the female government of Almack's was a pure despotism, and subject to all the caprices of despotic rule: it is needless to add that, like every other despotism, it was not innocent of abuses. The fair ladies who ruled supreme over this little dancing and gossiping world, issued a solemn proclamation that no gentleman should appear at the assemblies without being dressed in knee-breeches, white cravat, and chapeau bras. On one occasion, the Duke of Wellington was about to ascend the staircase of the ball-room, dressed in black trousers, when the vigilant Mr. Willis, the guardian of the establishment, stepped forward and said, "Your Grace cannot be admitted in trousers," whereupon the Duke, who had a great respect for orders and regulations, quietly walked away.
Was umso lächerlicher ist, als Männer in Kniebundhosen nun wirklich weder besonders elegant noch männlich wirken.
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Grüsse, Caro
Avatar: Amelia Darcy (1754-1784)
Für 1 Jahr säe einen Samen, für 10 Jahre pflanze einen Baum, für 100 Jahre erziehe einen Menschen. chin. Weisheit