Page:Fitzgerald - Pickwickian manners and customs (1897).djvu/23

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PICKWICKIAN MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
17

longer the peculiar "stand-up" collars, or "gills," and check neck-cloths.

But Mr. Bantam's costume at the Bath Assembly, shows the most startling change. Where is now the "gold eye glass?"—we know that eye glass, which was of a solid sort, not fixed on the nose, but held to the eye—a "quizzing glass," and folding up on a hinge—"a broad black ribbon" too; the "gold snuff box;" gold rings "innumerable" on the fingers, and "a diamond pin" on his "shirt frill" a "curb chain" with large gold seals hanging from his waistcoat—(a "curb chain" proper was then a little thin chain finely wrought, of very close links.) Then there was the "pliant ebony cane, with a heavy gold top." Ebony, however, is not pliant, but the reverse—black was the word intended. Then those "smalls" and stockings to match. Mr. Pickwick, a privileged man, appeared on this occasion, indeed always, in his favourite white breeches and gaiters. In fact, on no occasion save one,