The Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 98,
June 28 1890, by Various
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Title: Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 98, June 28 1890
Author: Various
Editor: Sir Francis Burnand
Release Date: August 24, 2010 [EBook #33526]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI
VOLUME 98, JUNE 28TH 1890
_edited by Sir Francis Burnand_
MODERN TYPES.
(_By Mr. Punch's own Type Writer._)
NO. XIV.--THE LADY FROM CLOUDLAND.
[Illustration]
AT intervals of a few years the torpor of London Society is stirred by
the carefully disseminated intelligence that a new planet has begun to
twinkle in the firmament of fashion, and the telescopes of all those
who are in search of novelty are immediately directed to the spot.
Partially dropping metaphor, it may be stated that a hitherto unknown
lady emerges, like the planet, from a cloud under which, as the
envious afterwards declare, the greater part of her previous existence
has been spent. But Society, under the influence of boredom, is
tolerant of new sensations and of those who seek to provide them.
Those who guard its portals are, in these latter days, bidden not
to be over-curious in the inquiries they make of applicants for
admission, and eventually it may come to pass that the approaches
and avenues are opened as readily to one who comes trailing clouds of
obscurity, as to her who shines with the steady lustre of acknowledged
position.
The Lady from Cloudland soars into the ken of fashion in various
places. Very often she is found for the first time in the little
mock temple which pious worshippers at the shrine of rank build for
themselves on the Riviera. They have their ceremonial closely copied
from the London model. They dance, they receive, they organise
bazaars. They launch out into tea-parties, and grow warm over the
discussion of scandals. They elect unto themselves leaders, and
bow their foreheads to the dust before the golden splendour of an
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