Not that Art and Fashion shunned the theatre. They began in 1880 to
affect it as never before. The one invaded Irving's premie`res at the
Lyceum. The other sang paeans in praise of the Bancrofts. The French
plays, too, were the feigned delight of all the modish world. Not to
have seen Chaumont in Totot chez Tata was held a solecism. The homely
mesdames and messieurs from the Parisian boards were `lionised' (how
strangely that phrase rings to modern ears!) in ducal drawing-rooms.
In fact, all the old prejudice of rank was being swept away. Even more
significant than the reception of players was a certain effort, made
at this time, to raise the average of aristocratic loveliness--an
effort that, but a few years before, would have been surely scouted as
quite undignified and outrageous. What the term `Professional Beauty'
signified, how any lady gained a right to it, we do not and may never
know. It is certain, however, that there were many ladies of tone,
upon whom it was bestowed. They received special attention from the
Prince of Wales, and hostesses would move heaven and earth to have
them in their rooms. Their photographs were on sale in the window of
every shop. Crowds assembled every morning to see them start from
Rotten Row.
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