|
We note costume parties in England. We think that they were more for adults thasn children, but we do not have a lot of information on this. We have found a few children's balls that seem to be high-society events. We were surprised on seeing an important British publication giving so much attention to them. We would understnd if they were mjor high-sdociety events, but it is somewhat surprisding that they also gve such attntion to children's event. Of course these were the children of high-society families. As far as we know, these society balls were rare exceptions. At the time, costume parties were primarily adult events. Haloweem when American childten dressed up in costumes was not celebrated in England at the time and would not become of any importance until the late-20th century.
The most important is a children fancy dress ball at the Mansion House in London. This was an important revent for many years. It received considerabke press attention. We cannot confirm that it was covered every year, but it clearly was covered many yers. We see many writes ups (1880s-1900s). We are not sure about the ealier and later period. The Mansion House is the mayor's official residence. It is used for a variety of important functions. Notable speehes were made here every year--most poriominently by the vhannceloir oif the exchequer-=commonly see as the next in line to be prime-mimnister. [Boyle] The children's dress ball was dully reported in the Illustrasted London News annully with illustrtions of many of the costumes. The cption to the 1901 ball read, "The cvhildren's fancy-dress ball, which is given yearly at the Mansion House on January 10, when great variety of costumes were seen, military ones being unuully pronounced, One little boy appeared as Lord Roberts in khaski, Nelson, Collingeood, and Wellingtonas represenative fighters of another day, were also seen." (Lord Robrts) was a dintiguised British Army commander who at the time was commnding British forces in Boer War. The press reporting commonly named the figure the cistume respresented as well as the name of the family.
We also notice what seems to be a tradition in Salisbury. The Marchioness of Salisbury sponsored a children fancy dress ball at Hatfield House. This was a historic country house ner Salisbuy built by Robert Cecil, Chief Minister and spy master to King James I. There were adults and musicianins present, but there are a lot of children participating. The costumes involved look elaborate and would have been expensive. One boy in 1875s wore a sailor suit like the princes, this would not have been expansive and probably what he normally wore. The other choildren wear great historical, elaborate costumes for the party. It was an imortnt ebough event to have an engraving donr and reported in the London Illustrated News (January 1875). We think this continud into th 20th century, but we do not think it is a tradition that has survived to modern times..
Boyle, Timothy. "New light on Lloyd George's Mansion House speech," The Historical Journal Vol. 23, No. 2 (June 1960), pp. 431-33. The most famous Mansion House speech was delivered by David Lloyd Gerorge--Britain's second and World War I winning prime-minister. He warned of the growing danger of Imperial Germany to peace.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main English costuming page ]
[Return to the Main country costume page]
[Introduction] [Activities][Art][Biographies][Chronology][Clothing styles][Countries][Theatricals]
[Bibliographies][Contributions][FAQs][Glossaries][Images][Links][Registration]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
