Word: sirs
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...story begins with Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister. Englishmen had had country houses before Walpole, of course, but it was he, in the 1720s and '30s. who first used one to bring men together to mix fun and politics. "Up to the chin in beef, venison, geese, turkeys, etc.," wrote one of the guests at Walpole's stag affairs, "and generally over the chin in claret, strong beer and punch." As roads and transportation improved, being a guest became more convenient. Women joined the fun, and the weekend house party began its long and bleary-eyed...
...British have aged and mellowed their institution of poet laureate for three centuries. Some who read the effusions of the present laureate, Sir John Betjeman, think that the process is better described as decay. Two weeks agd, when the Queen Mother turned 80, Sir John released a poem of celebration: "We are your people,/ Millions of us greet you/ On this your birthday/ Mother of our Queen." This defiantly wooden psalming was merely average Betjeman. Years ago, the death of King George V inspired the young Betjeman to a soaring metaphysical conception: "Spirits of well-shot woodcock, partridge, snipe/ Flutter...
Would the idea of a national laureate savor too much of those Graustarkian palace uniforms that Richard Nixon once ordered to dress up the White House guards? Probably. But if Jimmy Carter had had a troubadour to sing his occasions, his Sir John might, for better or worse, have erupted in celebration last week...
Nearly a quarter of a century ago, Sir Frederick Ashton wrote: "The older I get, the less interested I am in ballets of the pests, persecutions and cynicism of contemporary life, and frankly I only like ballets which give an opportunity for real dancing." He is 75 now, and those words may well stand as his artistic creed. For the Royal Ballet, he has whirled up Rhapsody, a dazzling, sun-drenched frolic that premiered last week as part of England's birthday tribute to the Queen Mother. There is no plot except from the music, Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody...
...could be convicted..."Hardoon insisted even after the deal was drawn up. But all along, Hardoon was very careful never to offend anybody--crammed into the Quincy House phone booth to speak with a federal judge who was considering blocking the arrests, Hardoon's first words were: "Judge Tauro, sir. Hello. I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure of meeting you sir...