Haute Ton
Readers of Regency are probably familiar with the term ‘ton’. But for the reader new to Regency the term is unfamiliar and somewhat odd. When I first began reading Regency I was flummoxed by the unfamiliar terminology. I only knew I enjoyed reading and learning about the Regency (also known as Georgian) era. And so, I determined to write this article. In it I summarize the meaning of the word 'ton'.
Ton pronounced (tone). The word derives from the French phrase Le Bon Ton meaning good form. Also the word haute ton is translated as high fashion and was adapted to encapsulate Regency's high society.
The term exemplifies the very nature of the upper echelons of society. To be considered worthy of the haute ton or the fashionables one must conform to certain accepted behaviors. These social behaviors were familiar only to the haute ton and they practiced them to perfection. If one did not conform woe be unto that person!
Depending upon the fashions of the season, the fashionables might alter these rules of conduct or change them altogether. Oftentimes the Lady patronesses of Almack's (see Almack’s Assembly Rooms in my
Regency glossary) set forth the rules.
Almack's was the place to be for those that longed to enter the inner circles of the haute ton. But to receive a subscription voucher to Almack's one must first pass muster with the lady patronesses. It was not an easy task. The major factors of acceptance into Almack's was title, good breeding and excellent conduct. Once an individual was accepted into Almack's their reception into the inner circle of the haute ton was virtually assured. After being received into the ton elite clique its members were expected to follow the rules of manner, fashion and conduct which was set before them by the patronesses as well as by the leaders of the ton. If a person broke the rules of haute ton conduct one might say of that person that they had bad ton. It was not a desirable occurrence for those that had good ton to be 'seen' in the company of those that had bad ton.
The world of the ton was a strange and regulated place where keeping up appearances meant the difference between making a good match or a bad match for the young debutantes that enjoyed their Season in London each year. Even with the solemn issue of making a good match hanging over many young girls' heads the members of the ton pursued pleasure and frivolity with a passion. They spent the Season in London and then retired to the country for even more pleasure at their country estates.
Like ducks in a row the ton followed one another in all ways.
Below is a small list of other names for the ton
Aristos
The Beau Monde
The Elite
Fashionable Society
Fashionables
The Fashion
Haute Ton
Nobles
The Peerage or simply Peerage
Peers of the Realm
Polite Society
Society Types (this term was employed more often by the servants of the peerage)
The Upper Ten Thousand or Upper Ten
Upper Crust
On the flipside the demimondes of society were a class outside that of proper society. This class of unfortunate people had fallen into ill repute.
Merriam-Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary gives us two definitions for the word demi-monde.
Demimonde
Pronunciation: \ˈde-mi-ˌmänd, -mē-\
Function: noun
Etymology: French demi-monde, from demi- + monde world, from Latin mundus
1 a: a class of women on the fringes of respectable society supported by wealthy lovers ; also : their world b: the world of prostitution
2: a distinct circle or world that is often an isolated part of a larger world <a night in the disco demimonde> ; especially : one having low reputation or prestige
When you happen upon the term demimonde when reading Regency, keep in mind that it refers to those in disrepute. A Regency hero or heroine was not often labeled a demimonde of society. Perhaps for the sake of the story the hero or heroine might fall into ill repute for a time, but one would expect the matter to be resolved by the end of the story.
The Regency is an interesting and sometimes shocking era of history to read and learn about. My fondest wish, as a lover of all things Regency, is that more people will come to enjoy it as much as I do.
Stephanie Boles
Writing is my ministry, not my job
References and Further Reading "What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew", by Daniel Pool, 1993, Simon & Schuster Inc.
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