The 10th Don’t Dance

There are many cartoons featuring the 10th Hussars in the early 1820s period which suggest that the officers were arrogant and snobbish, not only refusing to dance, but refusing to do anything. This one by Lewis Marks was published in April 1824 by S W Fores of 41 Piccadilly, showing three pompous officers in crimson cossack trousers. They are talking to two ladies who ask;
“Will you go down a Dance Sir?”
“The 10th don’t - eh - Dance to night.” says one of the officers.
“Will you play a Rubber?”
“The 10th don’t - eh - Play - to night.” replies the other officer.
“There is Music in the next room…”
“The 10th hate music - to night.”

The artist Captain Seccombe RA drew many military cartoons in the 1870s of which this one illustrates The Tenth Don’t Dance (1873). Even though the reputation was gained in 1823 it was still going strong 50 years later and beyond. Seccombe has captured the arrogance of a 10th Hussar officer foolish enough to assert such crassness, while the officer in the background takes advantage of an abundance of rejected ladies.

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