CHAPTER 27 – The Last of the Dandies

The chapter “The Last of the Dandies” from “Worldly Ways and Byways” depicts the extinct culture of dandies, epitomized by the character of the Prince de Sagan, considered the last of his kind. The dandy, once a celebrated figure of refined taste and elegance, has vanished, leaving behind only memories evoked by outdated descriptions of their unique attire and lifestyle. Prince de Sagan, with his distinctive silver hair, eye-glass, and famous waistcoats, held an unparalleled position in Parisian high society, known for his pivotal role in social and theatrical events. His approval was deemed essential for any debutante’s success, commanding attention and respect that paralleled the commands of historical autocrats.

Inheriting the title of Grand Duke Of Courland from Maurice de Saxe, Sagan not only maintained but elevated the family’s status, marrying into wealth and serving as the center of aristocratic life from his prestigious home in Esplanade des Invalides. Despite his aristocratic lifestyle, Sagan was unusually popular among the lower classes, representing an ideal of elegance they aspired to. This universal appeal underscores the unique charm of dandies, who, despite their seemingly frivolous preoccupations, were seen as necessary figures in society, adding grace and refinement otherwise lacking, particularly in cultures without such figures, like Germany, suggested as less refined in comparison with France or England.

The text mourns the loss of this “art” with Sagan’s eventual death, symbolizing the end of an era where aristocracy and refined taste provided a counterpoint to the mundane practicality prevailing in society. Sagan, a “late Quixote” of pleasure and elegance, is portrayed as the last bastion of a bygone age, emphasizing the void his passing will leave in a world increasingly leaning towards the egalitarian and the utilitarian. His life, marked by grandeur and a certain aimlessness, is depicted with a blend of admiration and a poignant recognition of its inevitable obsolescence. The chapter reflects on the broader implications of Sagan’s decline, suggesting that with figures like him disappear not only a person but a whole set of values and aesthetics that shaped an era, leaving behind a legacy of beauty and artfulness that modernity may long for but never quite recapture.