Esoteric London

City Road, London, EC1. Photo © Roger Dean 2012

Round London, Down East and Up West – Montagu Williams Q.C., 1894:

A new burlesque was announced to appear in a week or two, and a special line on the bill was given to Miss Scarborough, “the celebrated skirt dancer.”
The first night arrived. Every seat in the stalls was occu­pied, and some of the “Johnnies” had to be relegated to the orchestra. From the very first the burlesque took well, but the climax of success came with the appearance of the débutante. Miss Scarborough made a great hit. Not for years had there been such applause at the Limelight. Jaded youths leapt from their seats and clapped their hands with zeal, and it is to be feared that, in the enthusiasm of the moment, some of them creased their collars.
“What a jolly pretty girl!” “Light as a fairy!” “Sweet little hands and feet!” Yes; Miss Scarborough had indeed “caught on.”
In a few weeks the young lady demanded fifty pounds a week, and received it. At the East End music-hall two pounds a week had been her maximum salary.
Miss Scarborough did not lose her head; she was no fool.