Arnold Bennett - The Grim Tale of the Five Towns – (1907)
Bennett's list of of upper middle class material aspirations one hundred years ago. Which of them do we value now and which will we still value in another hundred years?
Three servants sleeping overhead.....who knows how social policies will go?
Champagne in the cellar....................certainly.
Furs in the wardrobe..........................unlikely.
Valuable lace.....................................only in museums.
Grand piano.......................................possibly.
Horses in the stable...........................depends on energy policies.
Stuffed bear in the hall......................?
9 comments:
I did once employ maids in the good old days. Quite partial to a maid.
Stuffed bear in the hall........? As I pass through my hallway I’m always close to getting stuffed thanks to the single bear light-bulb, bearing in mind it’s energy saving, which bearly gives enough light to avoid tripping on the thread-bear carpet.
James - just the one?
Mac - oh no I can't bear it!
Well there's certainly a stuffed bear in the hall of a famous old pub I've been known to frequent http://www.thedroversinn.co.uk/
but in a private house, perhaps less so as you say.
WY - pub of the year in 1705 I see.
Yeah and they haven't painted it since.
Great place!
A Nottingham lace antimacassar says its Keele Hall. In the first decade of the 20th Century Duke Michael of Russia was living there.
Demetrius - Keele Hall - isn't that what pirates did to their victims?
Not always, if the ships were steam powered they used them to Stoke the boilers.
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