MEN

When I turn to the opening of the eighteenth century, and leave Dutch
William and his Hollands and his pipe and his bulb-gardens behind, it
seems to me that there is a great noise, a tumultuous chattering. We
seem to burst upon a date of talkers, of coffee-houses, of snuff and
scandal. All this was going on before, I say to myself--people were
wearing powdered wigs, and were taking snuff, and were talking
scandal, but it did not appeal so forcibly.

We arrive at Sedan-chairs and hoops too big for them; we arrive at
red-heeled shoes. Though both chairs and red heels belong to the
previous reign, still, we arrive at them now--they are very much in
the picture. We seem to see a profusion, a confused mass of bobbins
and bone lace, mourning hatbands, silk garters, amber canes correctly
conducted, country men in red coats, coxcombs, brass and looking-glass
snuff-boxes.

[Illustration: {A man of the time of Anne}]

Gentlemen walk past our mental vision with seals curiously fancied and
exquisitely well cut. Ladies are sighing at the toss of a wig or the
tap on a snuff-box, falling sick for a pair of striped garters or a
pair of fringed gloves. Gentlemen are sitting baldheaded in elegant
dressing-gowns, while their wigs are being taken out of roulettes. The
peruquier removes the neat, warm clay tube, gives a last pat to the
fine pipes of the hair, and then gently places the wig on the waiting
gentlemen. If you can look through the walls of London houses you will
next see regiments of gentlemen, their faces pressed into glass cones,
while the peruquier tosses powder over their newly-put-on periwigs.
The bow at the end of the long pigtail on the Ramillies wig is
tied--that is over.

[Illustration: A MAN OF THE TIME OF QUEEN ANNE (1702-1714)

The coat has become still more full at the sides. The hat has a more
generous brim. Red heels in fashion.]

Running footmen, looking rather like Indians from the outsides of
tobacco shops, speed past. They are dressed in close tunics with a
fringed edge, which flicks them just above the knee. Their legs are
tied up in leather guards, their feet are strongly shod, their wigs
are in small bobs. On their heads are little round caps, with a
feather stuck in them. In one hand they carry a long stick about 5
feet high, in the top knob of which they carry some food or a message.
A message to whom?

[Illustration: A Running Footman.]

The running footman knocks on a certain