ANACHRONISMS.
Mr. Thackeray makes another trip in the present (April) number of The Newcomes. Clive writes a letter dated "May 1, 183—," which is at once answered by Pendennis, who sends him "an extract from Bagham's article on the Royal Academy," and Mr. Thackeray makes the critic ask, "Why have we no picture of the sovereign and her august consort from Smee's brush?" To which it may be answered, "Because, even if the '183—' represents the time of Victoria's reign, her Majesty did not take unto herself an 'august consort' until Feb. 10, 1840." It may also be observed, that in all the illustrations to Mr. Thackeray's delightful story, Mr. Doyle has clothed the dramatis personæ in the dresses of the present day. A notable example of this occurs at p. 75., in his clever sketch of Mrs. Newcome's At Home, "a small early party" given in the year 1833, the date being determined by a very simple act of mental arithmetic, since the author informs us that the colonel went to the party in the mufti-coat "sent him out by Messrs. Stultz to India in the year 1821," and which he had "been in the habit of considering a splendid coat for twelve years past." The anachronism on Mr. Doyle's part is probably intentional. Indeed, he only follows the example which Mr. Thackeray had justified in these words:
"It was the author's intention, faithful to history, to depict all the characters of this tale in their proper costumes, as they wore them at the commencement of the century. But, when I remember the appearance of people in those days, and that an officer and lady were actually habited like this [here follows one of Mr. Thackeray's graphic sketches], I have not the heart to disfigure my heroes and heroines by costumes so hideous; and have, on the contrary, engaged a model of rank dressed according to the present fashion."—Vanity Fair, note to p. 55.
And, certainly, when one looks at a fashion-book published some twenty years ago, one cannot feel surprised at Mr. Doyle, or any other man of taste, preferring to commit an anachronism, rather than depict frights and monstrosities.
Cuthbert Bede, B.A.