One hundred years ago
The inherent flunkeyisrn of London society was curiously illustrated last week. It was determinal to hold a fancy fair in the Albert Hall, for the benefit of the Women's Hospital, Chelsea, and Princesses, great ladies, and professional beauties all agreed to keep stalls in fancy dresses. The crowd which rushed to see them was so great that, in spite of the vast proportions of the building, entrance and exit took hours; it was impossible to move about, and difficult to see; and once or twice it was thought prudent to close the doors, to prevent a catastrophe. No one obtained any pleasure, and most returned fatigued, headachy, ill-tempered, and with a few ridiculous trifles, purchased at exorbitant prices; but they had enjoyed a sight of the great ladies, in preposterous costumes. That delight, however, was so sufficient that the fair yielded £7,540, and the experiment is to be repeated for another hospital. We recommend the narrative to the managers of the 'Hospital Sunday.' They have only to engage a few Princesses and Duchesses to hold the plates, and to advertise them a month beforehand, to double the annual receipts.
Spectator, 18 June 1881
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