lunteers) in the Temple or
Lincoln's Inn, may stand as typical samples of the species semi-public.

Note those words "Full Dress" in the corner of your card of invitation
to the Mansion House ball. They mean that if you are the possessor of
anything in the nature of a uniform--military, naval, diplomatic,
consular, or what not--you are expected to appear in it. But, in any
case, do not omit to put your card in your pocket, for it will be
demanded at the door--a not unreasonable precaution against the influx
of uninvited guests in such a crowd. And start Cityward betimes, not
later than 10 or a quarter-past 10 P. M., if your home lies in
Belgravian or Mayfair parts, for it's a terribly long journey to that
spot where the Mansion House stands staring at the Bank, and City dances
always begin early. Come, now, isn't it something worth living for to
have one's coat and hat taken by one of this knot of magnificent
crimson-velvet-coated, gold-beplastered, silken-calved beings who are
ranged along the sides of the vestibule? For my part, I protest that,
familiar though their aspect is to me, I cannot see a lord mayor's
flunkeys in their state liveries--their hues varying chameleon-wise from
year to year--without feelings of almost reverential wonderment. What a
study for the great clothes-philosopher of _Sartor Resartus!_ But it
will never do to stand moralizing in the gangway here. Besides, a superb
majordomo has caught up our names and announced them electrifyingly; so
hurry we forward to where, between two pillars, the lord mayor,
distinguished by his chain of office, and the lady mayoress, stand to
receive their guests with bow and hand-shaking, and on, past them, into
the scene of action, the Egyptian Hall. A fine big room for a dance, now
that all those chairs and tables are cleared away that groan so
frequently under aldermanic bodies and things edible and potable (for
this hall is, as everybody knows, the home and centre of civic
hospitality). The platform, see, is occupied by the band of the
Grenadier Guards, so the music is sure to be, from a dancer's point of
view, pretty good. Though, in truth, at present one might wonder where
the dancers are to find space for their gyrations. The whole area of the
floor is covered by a gay crowd, all chattering away in a very Babel of
tongues. Some royal highness or other is expected to-night, it seems,
and it isn't etiquette to begin dancing before he or she arrives. But a
few m