THE PERILS OF MODERNITY
We live in an age ruled by efficiency, productivity and spendthriftiness - in essence, an age dominated by jumped-up industrialists and their toadying bootlicks. No longer are courtesy, self-respect and the study of decadent poetry fashionable, and gentlemen and gentleladies alike emerge from their dwellings hatless and with their suits hanging ill-fittingly from their bodies not because they are consumptive but because they do not have time to care.
RECAPTURING THE ART OF LIVING
There is little shelter to be found from this reign of bankers. There is a light of hope, however, for those tweed-hearted souls who, despite being assailed on all sides by clothing with logos and the decline of radio, carry on trying. This light is that of a Melbourne social club - the Melbourne social club - called The Earl Grey, offering repast for excellent minds and excellently-clad bodies alike.
BETTER MANNERS, WORSTED SUITS
The Earl Grey offers membership to all those who find time to stop and smell the macassar oil. All those who are lost in a sea of children serving coffee and television programs starring bewildered yahoos, and are searching for a pot of Darjeeling and a copy of Wilde’s latest.
Its members at all times seek out civility over casuality, a broad mind over narrow jeans and the independent craftsperson over mass-production by underpaid youths. Just as the well-mannered never eat to their fill at dinner, so that they may have extra pudding, the Earl Grey sets aside that essential time for its members to contemplate the workings of this world and their role within it. They come together to share advice and experience for travelling down life’s long rocky road, and wearing excellent hats while doing so.
REVOLUTION TWEED STYLE NOW
Though it is essential to challenge society’s lacklustre expectations, we must remember the words of Baudelaire: “Everything that pleases one has a reason for pleasing, and pouring scorn on the crowds that mistakenly gather here or there is not the way to bring them back to where they ought to be.”
In their spiritual mission, they must not sneer upon the misled, but remember for them the lessons of history that would otherwise be forgot - that to be considerate is more important than to be successful, that every ‘employee’ is in fact an artisan disenfranchised and that an establishment without a smoking-room is barely an establishment at all. They must seek out seeds of sartorial discontent and intellectual rebellion. The Earl Grey must be the club to join if one wishes to know where to find cufflinks to match one’s collar-studs, and which booksellers stock more Dostoevsky than Dan Brown.
If you wish to see a better world, unmarred by bad manners and substandard spirits, or if you merely wish to take tea with the very finest (and most elegantly dressed) of company, then Science tells us that The Earl Grey is the Gentlemen-and-Ladies’ Club for you!
Nathan was heard to remark,
Upon the 19th of January, 2006 at 12:07 am,
I have a bad feeling I don’t qualify for membership…..
Sir Frederick Chooke was heard to remark,
Upon the 19th of January, 2006 at 12:25 am,
Not with that attitude, Mr Frowny! All a potential member needs to do is possess an interest in fine suits, classic literature, the study of history and culture and the art of drinking tea! Anyone without said interests would find membership a frightful bore anyway.
Nathan was heard to remark,
Upon the 19th of January, 2006 at 6:33 pm,
Well…. I have an interest in suits, even if I can’t afford them… classic literature comes under the category of literature, so that’s fine, I have some interest in history, so that’s also fine.
…
But I drink coffee.
Madam C was heard to remark,
Upon the 20th of January, 2006 at 1:27 pm,
I also drink coffee - I developed a taste for it during my travels in Turkey.
Brilliant manifesto, inspiring stiffenings of the upper lip and thumpings of the nearest table/serving lad!
Colonel Salt was heard to remark,
Upon the 20th of February, 2006 at 8:09 am,
If it means anything at all, I enjoy most coffees, the turkish roast above all.
Colonel Salt was heard to remark,
Upon the 20th of February, 2006 at 8:12 am,
Oh, by the way, is there an age limit of participation in this society?
On the other hand, I congragulate you on this piece. Very good work!
Sir Frederick Chooke was heard to remark,
Upon the 20th of February, 2006 at 2:45 pm,
Continental tastes are to be admired, not to be pitied… too much.
And an age limit? Not at this point. Options are still being considered.
Adolf Malcom Lovecraft, Esq was heard to remark,
Upon the 24th of February, 2006 at 8:04 am,
Helloo, helloo, fellow gentleman. How are you faring? I am Colonel Salt’s companion; he introduced this wonderful website society to me. I no longer feel alone in this pursuit (except for the company of Colonel Salt, that was). Would you be so considerate as to allow me into this community? I shall wait for a response as I explore the archives of this website. Good day to you!
Adolf Malcom Lovecraft, Esq was heard to remark,
Upon the 24th of February, 2006 at 1:13 pm,
I have an inquiry. Does a “trenchcoat” fall under the category of “nice suits?” I think it may be a bit in-appropriate for the category, but it is as nice and gentlemanly (pardon the bad spelling, if any) as a nice suit can be. And if a goth’s attitude is gentlemanly, is he a gentleman despite his clothes? As far as coffee goes (tracing back to the last few posts), I personally prefer Macadamian Bean. Why is coffee such a “hot topic?” Sorry if this comment is conceived as rude. Have a nice day!
Adolf Malcom Lovecraft, Esq was heard to remark,
Upon the 24th of February, 2006 at 1:16 pm,
Whoopsie daisies, I should have included this in my last post, ADOLF Hitler, James MALCOM Rymer, and H.P. LOVECRAFT. :) Have a nice day.
Sir Frederick Chooke was heard to remark,
Upon the 24th of February, 2006 at 2:17 pm,
Well, to attempt to address your concerns in chronological order…
We are not a community so much as a society - individuals FROM a community, coming togother for a smaller, more specific purpose. As we are but in our formative stages, guidelines for membership are not yet drawn up, but by all means, send me your details (a name, location and date of birth would do swimmingly) and I can put you on the mailing list for any and all important notifications.
A trenchcoat is certainly suitable for an artillery-officer in the CO mess, but otherwise, it would depend if it can double as a greatcoat. Clothes are not the be-all-end-all of gentility, certainly… clothes do not maketh the man, but once he is made, they ensure he is well-dressed.
Rudeness is the first example of a noble (the second is syphillis). Coffee is not important, however.
And why Herr Hitler, exactly?
Adolf Malcom Lovecraft, Esq was heard to remark,
Upon the 25th of February, 2006 at 1:20 pm,
So there are specifics as to joining this society (substitute this expression with whatever so fits your liking)? I will definetley (pardon spelling) send some specifics, but how? Should I just post whatever I should on this forum? Or do you happen to have a convinient e-mail adress? I know a trenchcoat is a bit of an immature idea, but in a fashion statement, if not torn and vandalized, can look very… gentlemanly. Rudeness may be the sign of a noble, but I definetley prefer to remain polite on first greetings (I couldn’t happen to sum up the correct phrase; I know there is one). Coffee, I know is not important, but I didn’t want to be the only one who didn’t post a comment towards that :). As for Herr Hitler… he is like “god.” He is so (underline) brilliantly genius… yet uses such power and smart for such bad, and inconvenience. I also like HIS fashion statement :). Well, I suppose I have nothing else to say for the moment. If you would be so kind as to supply an e-mail adress for me to send information, that would be most convenient. Good day to you all.
Sir Frederick Chooke was heard to remark,
Upon the 25th of February, 2006 at 2:08 pm,
At this point applications are being decided upon by the founding members. You can email your details to applications@frillyshirt.org.
And… “god”? The man was good at fascism… but it was still fascism. His ideas about shadowy plots against all that is good and nice, and his ideas about, you know, GENOCIDE… plus, even in non-ideological matters like KILLING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, the organisational ruin his party was in below him, and his decisions to, for example, trust that Britain would be his ally, invade the USSR and declare war on the United States… push him firmly out of the “genius” box and into the “madman” box for me.
Adolf Malcom Lovecraft, Esq was heard to remark,
Upon the 25th of February, 2006 at 4:05 pm,
OK, I shall send an email, relatively soon… Age, name, and location? I compare him to “god” because he was really smart… he knew what he was doing, all the way, all the time, and, if may use this terminology, used it all to be a JACKASS. Just like “god,” who asks of you all these prayers and makes you build churches, and in return makes you think you’ll be praised and blessed, but really does nothing. The “inconsiderateness” matches both ways! I do respect your thoughts of him, but I, alon with Colonel Salt, think he was pure genius. Sorry again, if this insults anybody… It’s getting a bit late (not too late, but enough for me to go do something else off the computer), so I must take my leave ’till tomorrow. Have a good day.
Edward Tokarev was heard to remark,
Upon the 26th of February, 2006 at 10:16 am,
Hello.How are you all doing? I am doing quite good. Though there’s something that is wrong. If you want to know, im the friend of Colonel Salt and brother of Adolf Malcom Lovecraft. I would say that I’m quite nice though. Well I don’t have that much time left, so i will say my goodbyes. Farewell.
Edward Tokarev was heard to remark,
Upon the 26th of February, 2006 at 10:23 am,
Edward as in EDWARD Lear, and Tokarev as in Fedor TOKAREV. (Just so you know, the Tokarev is a very strong Russian handgun).