diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:40:53 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:40:53 -0700 |
| commit | a56784316c100e5e23f3d6032e1485ac6c399ca1 (patch) | |
| tree | cd0a84d74bcbe82ec6c6f1cbd8d054efa59bd78a /12873-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '12873-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 12873-h/12873-h.htm | 1698 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12873-h/images/323-1.png | bin | 0 -> 134567 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12873-h/images/323-2.png | bin | 0 -> 19578 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12873-h/images/323-3.png | bin | 0 -> 29453 bytes |
4 files changed, 1698 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/12873-h/12873-h.htm b/12873-h/12873-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9268f37 --- /dev/null +++ b/12873-h/12873-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1698 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 12, Issue 323, July 19, 1828, by Various</title> +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[*/ + + <!-- + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {text-align: justify;} + blockquote {text-align: justify;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center;} + pre {font-size: 0.7em;} + hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + a:link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:#ff0000} + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + html>body hr {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; + width: 50%;} + html>body hr.full {margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 0%; width: 100%;} + hr.short {text-align: center; width: 20%;} + html>body hr.short {margin-right: 40%; margin-left: 40%; + width: 20%;} + .centre {text-align: center;} + .author {text-align: right;} + .note, .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + + span.pagenum + {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; font-size: 8pt;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; + margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 0em 0em;} + .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + .poem p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;} + .poem p.i4 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem p.i6 {margin-left: 3em;} + .poem p.i8 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem p.i10 {margin-left: 5em;} + + .figure {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center; + font-size: 0.8em; margin: auto;} + .figure i {border: none;} + .figure p + + .side { float:right; + font-size: 75%; + width: 25%; + padding-left:10px; + border-left: dashed thin; + margin-left: 10px; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-weight: bold; + font-style: italic;} + --> +/*]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12873 ***</div> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 12, Issue 323, July 19, 1828, by Various</h1> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr class="full" /> +<h1>THE MIRROR<br /> +OF<br /> +LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.</h1> +<hr class="full" /> +<table width="100%" summary="Volume, Number, and Date"> +<tr> +<td align="left"><b>Vol. 12, No. 323.]</b></td> +<td align="center"><b>SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1828</b></td> +<td align="right"><b>[PRICE 2d.</b></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>COLOMBIA COLLEGE, NEW-YORK</h2> +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page33" name="page33"></a>[pg +33]</span><div class="figure" style="width:100%;"><a href= +"images/323-1.png"><img width="100%" src="images/323-1.png" alt= +"Columbia College" /></a></div> + + +<blockquote class="note">“It is intended that a large academy be +erected, capable of containing nine thousand seven hundred and +forty-three persons: which, by modest computation, is reckoned to be +pretty near the current number of wits in this island,” +<br />—<i>Swift’s Tale of a Tub.</i></blockquote> + +<p>Instruction, manners, mysteries, and trades.</p> + +<p> One college is almost completed within her radius, and will be +opened in a few weeks; whilst munificent subscriptions are pouring +in from all quarters of the empire, towards the endowment of a +second. We have hitherto been silent spectators of these grand +strides in the intellectual advancement of our country; but we have +not, on that account, been less sensible of the important benefits +which they are calculated to work in her social scheme, and in </p> + +<blockquote> +<p> The nurture of her youth, her dearest pledge.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p> We are not of those who would (even were Newton’s theory +practicable) compress the world into a nutshell, or neglect “aught +toward the general good;” and one of our respected correspondents, +who doubtless participates in these cosmopolitan sentiments, has +furnished us with the original of the above view of COLOMBIA +COLLEGE; seeing that this, like the universities of our own country, +is equally important to “Prince Posterity,” and accordingly +we proceed with our correspondent’s description. </p> + +<p> Colombia College, in the city of New York (of the principal +building of which the annexed sketch is a correct representation) +may be ranked among the chief seminaries of learning in America. It +was principally founded by the voluntary contributions of the +inhabitants of the province, assisted by the general assembly and +corporation of Trinity Church, in 1754; at which time it was called +King’s College. </p> + +<p> A royal charter, and grant of money, was obtained, incorporating +a number of gentlemen therein mentioned, by the name of “The +Governors of the College of the province of New York, in the City of +New York;” and granting to them and their successors for ever, +among various other rights and privileges, the power of conferring +such degrees as are usually conferred <span class="pagenum"><a +id="page34" name="page34"></a>[pg 34]</span>by the English +universities. The president and members to be of the church of +England, and the form of prayer used to be collected from the +Liturgy of the church of England. </p> + +<p>Since the revolution, the legislature passed an act, constituting +twenty-one gentlemen, (of whom were the governor and +lieutenant-governor for the time being,) a body corporate and +politic, by the name of “the Regents of the University of the state +of New York.” They were entrusted with the care of the literature of +the state, and a power to grant charters for erecting colleges and +academies throughout the state.</p> + +<p>It received the name of Colombia College in 1787; when by an act +of the legislature, it was placed under the care of twenty-four +gentlemen, styled, “the trustees of the Colombian College,” who +possessed the same powers as those of King’s College.</p> + +<p>In 1813, the College of Physicians and the Medical School were +united; and the academical and medical departments are together +styled “The University of New York.” It is now well endowed and +liberally patronized by the legislature of the state. The College +consists of two handsome stone edifices, but the view given is but +one-third of the originally intended structure, and contains a +chapel, hall, library of 5,000 volumes, museum, anatomical theatre, +and school for experimental philosophy.</p> + +<p>The Medical College is a large, brick building, containing an +anatomical museum, chemical laboratory, mineralogical cabinet, +museum of natural history, and a botanical garden, and nine medical +professors. Every student pays to each professor from 15 to 25 +dollars per course.</p> + +<p>There are also professors of mathematics, natural philosophy, +history, ancient and modern languages, logic, &c. The number of +students in 1818 was 233, but it has now greatly increased. As many +in each year as finish their course of study, walk in procession +with the other students and all the professors, preceded by a band +of music to St. Paul’s church, where they deliver orations in +English and Latin before a crowded assembly. This is called “a +commencement.”</p> + +<p>The situation is about 150 yards from the Hudson, of which, and +the surrounding country it commands an extensive view. The whole is +enclosed by a stone wall, with an area of several acres, +interspersed with gravel walks, green plats, and full-grown trees. +</p> + +<p>BETA.</p> + +<div class="note"> +<p><i>Note</i>.—All our readers may not be aware that the +remains of Two Literary Colleges still exist in London: <i>Gresham +College</i> and <i>Sion College</i>—or we should say of one of +them. The first was founded and endowed by that excellent citizen +Sir Thomas Gresham. He was much opposed by the university of +Cambridge, which endeavoured to prevent the establishment of a rival +institution. (This was two centuries and a half ago.) He devised by +will, his house in Bishopsgate street, to be converted into +habitations and lecture-rooms for seven professors or lecturers on +seven liberal sciences, who were to receive a salary out of the +revenues of the Royal Exchange. Gresham College was subsequently +converted into the modern general excise-office; but <i>the +places</i> are still continued, with a double salary for the loss of +apartments, and the lectures are delivered gratuitously twice a day +in a small room in the Royal Exchange, during term-time. The will of +the founder has not, however, been actually carried into execution. +As we hate “solemn farce” and “ignorance in stilts,” we hope +“scrutiny will not be stone blind” in this matter. A more useful man +than Sir Thomas Gresham is not to be found in British biography, and +it is painful to see his good intentions frustrated.</p> + +<p><i>Sion College</i> is situated near London Wall, to the south of +Fore-street. It was founded in 1623 by the rector of St. +Dunstan’s in the west, for the London clergy. The whole body +of rectors and vicars within the city are fellows of this college, +and all the clergy in and near the metropolis may have free access +to its extensive and valuable library.</p> +</div> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>SUPERSTITIONS ON THE WEATHER.</h2> + +<p class="centre"><big><i>From Sir H. Davy’s Salmonia; or, Days of Fly-fishing. +(In Conversations.)</i></big></p> +<blockquote class="note">POIETES, a Tyro in Fly-fishing.—PHYSICUS, an uninitiated +Angler, fond of inquiries in natural history, &c.—HALIEUS, +an accomplished fly-fisher.—ORNITHER, a sporting +gentleman.</blockquote> + +<p><i>Poietes</i>. I hope we shall have another good day to-morrow, +for the clouds are red in the west.</p> + +<p><i>Physicus</i>. I have no doubt of it, for the red has a tint of +purple.</p> + +<p><i>Halieus</i>. Do you know why this tint portends fine +weather?</p> + +<p><i>Phys</i>. The air, when dry, I believe, refracts more red, or +heat-making rays; and as dry air is not perfectly transparent, they +are again reflected in the horizon. I have generally observed a +coppery or yellow sun-set to foretell rain; but, as an indication of +wet weather approaching, nothing is more certain than a halo round +the moon, which is produced by the precipitated water; and the +larger the circle, the nearer the clouds, and consequently the more +ready to fall.</p> + +<p><i>Hal</i>. I have often observed that the old proverb is +correct—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<p>A rainbow in the morning is the shepherd’s warning:</p> +<p>A rainbow at night is the shepherd’s delight.</p> +</div> + +<p>Can you explain this omen?</p> + +<p><i>Phys</i>. A rainbow can only occur when the clouds containing +or depositing the rain are opposite to the sun,—and in the +evening the rainbow is in the east, and in the morning in the west; +and as our +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page35" name="page35"></a>[pg +35]</span> +heavy rains in this climate are usually brought by the westerly +wind, a rainbow in the west indicates that the bad weather is on the +road, by the wind, to us; whereas the rainbow in the east proves +that the rain in these clouds is passing from us.</p> + +<p><i>Poiet</i>. I have often observed, that when the swallows fly +high, fine weather is to be expected or continued; but when they fly +low, and close to the ground, rain is almost surely approaching. Can +you account for this?</p> + +<p><i>Hal</i>. Swallows follow the flies and gnats, and flies and +gnats usually delight in warm strata of air; and as warm air is +lighter, and usually moister, than cold air, when the warm strata of +air are high, there is less chance of moisture being thrown down +from them by the mixture with cold air; but when the warm and moist +air is close to the surface, it is almost certain that, as the cold +air flows down into it, a deposition of water will take place.</p> + +<p><i>Poiet</i>. I have often seen sea-gulls assemble on the land, +and have almost always observed that very stormy and rainy weather +was approaching. I conclude that these animals, sensible of a +current of air approaching from the ocean, retire to the land to +shelter themselves from the storm.</p> + +<p><i>Ornither</i>. No such thing. The storm is their element; and +the little petrel enjoys the heaviest gale, because, living on the +smaller sea-insects, he is sure to find his food in the spray of a +heavy wave—and you may see him flitting above the edge of the +highest surge. I believe that the reason of this migration of +sea-gulls, and other sea-birds, to the land, is their security of +finding food; and they may be observed, at this time, feeding +greedily on the earth-worms and larva, driven out of the ground by +severe floods: and the fish, on which they prey in fine weather in +the sea, leave the surface and go deeper in storms. The search after +food is the principal cause why animals change their places. The +different tribes of the wading birds always migrate when rain is +about to take place; and I remember once, in Italy, having been long +waiting, in the end of March, for the arrival of the double snipe in +the Campagna of Rome, a great flight appeared on the 3rd of April, +and the day after heavy rain set in, which greatly interfered with +my sport. The vulture, upon the same principle, follows armies; and +I have no doubt that the augury of the ancients was a good deal +founded upon the observation of the instincts of birds. There are +many superstitions of the vulgar owing to the same source. For +anglers, in spring, it is always unlucky to see single +magpies,—but two may be always regarded as a favourable omen; +and the reason is, that in cold and stormy weather, one magpie alone +leaves the nest in search of food, the other remaining sitting upon +the eggs or the young ones; but when two go out together, it is only +when the weather is warm and mild, and favourable for fishing.</p> + +<p><i>Poiet</i>. The singular connexions of causes and effects, to +which you have just referred, make superstition less to be wondered +at, particularly amongst the vulgar; and when two facts naturally +unconnected, have been accidentally coincident, it is not singular +that this coincidence should have been observed and registered, and +that omens of the most absurd kind should be trusted in. In the west +of England, half a century ago, a particular hollow noise on the +sea-coast was referred to a spirit or goblin, called Bucca, and was +supposed to foretell a shipwreck: the philosopher knows that sound +travels much faster than currents in the air, and the sound always +foretold the approach of a very heavy storm, which seldom takes +place on that wild and rocky coast without a shipwreck on some part +of its extensive shores, surrounded by the Atlantic.</p> + +<p><i>Phys</i>. All the instances of omens you have mentioned are +founded on reason; but how can you explain such absurdities as +Friday being an unlucky day, the terror of spilling salt, or meeting +an old woman? I knew a man of very high dignity, who was exceedingly +moved by these omens, and who never went out shooting without a +bittern’s claw fastened to his button-hole by a riband, which +he thought ensured him good luck.</p> + +<p><i>Poiet</i>. These, as well as the omens of death-watches, +dreams, &c., are for the most part founded upon some accidental +coincidences; but spilling of salt, on an uncommon occasion, may, as +I have known it, arise from a disposition to apoplexy, shown by an +incipient numbness in the hand, and may be a fatal symptom; and +persons, dispirited by bad omens, sometimes prepare the way for evil +fortune; for confidence in success is a great means of ensuring it. +The dream of Brutus, before the field of Pharsalia, probably +produced a species of irresolution and despondency, which was the +principal cause of his losing the battle: and I have heard that the +illustrious sportsman to whom you referred just now, was always +observed to shoot ill, because he shot carelessly, after one of his +dispiriting omens.</p> + +<p><i>Hal</i>. I have in life met with a few +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page36" name="page36"></a>[pg +36]</span> +coincidences or by natural connexions; and I have known minds of a +very superior class affected by them,—persons in the habit of +reasoning deeply and profoundly.</p> + +<p><i>Phys</i>. In my opinion, profound minds are the most likely to +think lightly of the resources of human reason; and it is the pert, +superficial thinker, who is generally strongest in every kind of +unbelief. The deep philosopher sees chains of causes and effects so +wonderfully and strangely linked together, that he is usually the +last person to decide upon the impossibility of any two series of +events being independent of each other; and in sciences, so many +natural miracles, as it were, have been brought to light,—such +as the fall of stones from meteors in the atmosphere, the disarming +of a thunder-cloud by a metallic point, the production of fire from +ice by a metal white as silver, and referring certain laws of motion +of the sea to the moon,—that the physical inquirer is seldom +disposed to assert, confidently, on any abstruse subjects belonging +to the order of natural things, and still less so on those relating +to the more mysterious relations of moral events and intellectual +natures.</p> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>DEVIL’S HOLE, KIRBY STEPHEN.</h2> + +<p class="centre"><big>(<i>For the Mirror.</i>)</big></p> + +<p>At about three quarters of a mile east of Kirby Stephen, +Westmoreland, is a bridge of solid rock, known by the name of +<i>Staincroft Bridge</i> or Stonecroft Bridge, under which runs a +small but fathomless rivulet. The water roars and gushes through the +surrounding rocks and precipices with such violence, as almost to +deafen the visitor. Three or four yards from the bridge is an +immense abyss, where the waters “incessantly roar,” which goes by +the name of <i>Devil’s Hole</i>; the tradition of which is, that two +lovers were swallowed up in this frightful gulf. The neighbouring +peasants tell a tale of one <i>Deville</i>, a lover, who, through +revenge, plunged his fair mistress into these waters, and afterwards +followed her. How far this story may get belief, I know not; but +such they aver is the truth, while they mournfully lament the sad +affair.—They point out a small hole in the bank where you may hear +the waters dashing with fury against the projecting rocks. This, +some imagine to be the noise of infernal spirits, who have taken up +their abode in this tremendous abyss; while others persist in their +opinion, that the lover’s name was <i>Deville</i>, and that it +retains his name to this day, in commemoration of the horrid deed.</p> + +<p>I have seen, and taken a view of the frightful place, which may +rather be imagined than described. One part of the water was +formerly so narrow, that a wager was laid by a gentleman that he +could span it with the thumb and little finger, and which he would +have accomplished, but his adversary, getting up in the night time, +chipped a piece off the rock with a hammer, and thus won the wager. +It is now, however, little more than from a foot and a half, to two +feet broad, excepting at the falls and <i>Devil’s Hole</i>. The +water runs into the Eden at the distance of about a mile or two from +Staincroft Bridge. Trout are caught with the line and net in great +quantities, and are particularly fine here.</p> + +<p class="author">W.H.H.</p> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<h2>ANECDOTES OF A TAMED PANTHER.</h2> + +<p class ="centre">B<small>Y</small> M<small>RS.</small> B<small>OWDICH</small>.</p> +<div class="note"> +<p>[Mrs. Bowdich is the widow of Mr. Thomas Edward Bowdich, + who fell a victim to his enterprize in exploring the + interior of Africa, in 1824. Mr. B. was a profound classic + and linguist and member of several learned societies in + England and abroad. In 1819 he published, in a quarto + volume, his “Mission to Ashantee,” a work of the highest + importance and interest. Mrs. B., whose pencil has + furnished embellishments for her husband’s literary + productions, has published “Excursions to Madeira, &c.,” + and this amiable and accomplished lady has now in course + of publication, a work on the Fresh-water Fishes of Great + Britain.—The subsequent anecdotes are of equal interest + to the student of natural history and the general reader, + especially as they exhibit the habits and disposition of + the Panther in a new light. The Ounce, a variety of the + Panther is, however, easily tamed and trained to the chase + of deer, the gazelle, &c.—for which purpose it has long + been employed in the East, and also during the middle ages + in Italy and France.—Mr. Kean, the tragedian, a few years + since, had a tame <i>Puma</i>, or American Lion, which he + kept at his house in Clarges-street, Piccadilly, and + frequently introduced to large parties of company.—ED.]</p> +</div> +<p>I am induced to send you some account of a panther which was +in my possession for several months. He and another were +found when very young in the forest, apparently deserted by +their mother. They were taken to the king of Ashantee, in +whose palace they lived several weeks, when my hero, being +much larger than his companion, suffocated him in a fit of +romping, and was then sent to Mr. Hutchison, the resident +left by Mr. Bowdich at Coomassie. This gentleman, observing +that the animal was very docile, took pains to tame him, and +in a great measure succeeded. When he was about a year old, +Mr. Hutchison returned to Cape Coast, and had him led +through the country by a chain, occasionally letting +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page37" name="page37"></a>[pg +37]</span> +him loose when eating was going forward, when he would sit +by his master’s side, and receive his share with comparative +gentleness. Once or twice he purloined a fowl, but easily +gave it up to Mr. Hutchison, on being allowed a portion of +something else. The day of his arrival he was placed in a +small court, leading to the private rooms of the governor, +and after dinner was led by a thin cord into the room, where +he received our salutations with some degree of roughness, +but with perfect good-humour. On the least encouragement he +laid his paws upon our shoulders, rubbed his head upon us, +and his teeth and claws having been filed, there was no +danger of tearing our clothes. He was kept in the above +court for a week or two, and evinced no ferocity, except +when one of the servants tried to pull his food from him; he +then caught the offender by the leg, and tore out a piece of +flesh, but he never seemed to owe him any ill-will +afterwards. He one morning broke his cord, and, the cry +being given, the castle gates were shut, and a chase +commenced. After leading his pursuers two or three times +round the ramparts, and knocking over a few children by +bouncing against them, he suffered himself to be caught, and +led quietly back to his quarters, under one of the guns of +the fortress.</p> + +<p>By degrees the fear of him subsided, and orders having been +given to the sentinels to prevent his escape through the +gates, he was left at liberty to go where he pleased, and a +boy was appointed to prevent him from intruding into the +apartments of the officers. His keeper, however, generally +passed his watch in sleeping; and Saï, as the panther was +called, after the royal giver, roamed at large. On one +occasion he found his servant sitting on the step of the +door, upright, but fast asleep, when he lifted his paw, gave +him a blow on the side of his head which laid him flat, and +then stood wagging his tail, as if enjoying the mischief he +had committed. He became exceedingly attached to the +governor, and followed him every-where like a dog. His +favourite station was at a window of the sitting-room, which +overlooked the whole town; there, standing on his hind legs, +his fore paws resting on the ledge of the window, and his +chin laid between them, he appeared to amuse himself with +what was passing beneath. The children also stood with him +at the window; and one day, finding his presence an +encumbrance, and that they could not get their chairs close, +they used their united efforts to pull him down by the tail. +He one morning missed the governor, who was settling a +dispute in the hall, and who, being surrounded by black +people, was hidden from the view of his favourite. Saï +wandered with a dejected look to various parts of the +fortress in search of him; and, while absent on this errand, +the audience ceased, the governor returned to his private +rooms, and seated himself at a table to write. Presently he +heard a heavy step coming up the stairs, and, raising his +eyes to the open door, he beheld Saï. At that moment he gave +himself up for lost, for Saï immediately sprang from the +door on to his neck. Instead, however, of devouring him, he +laid his head close to the governor’s, rubbed his cheek upon +his shoulder, wagged his tail, and tried to evince his +happiness. Occasionally, however, the panther caused a +little alarm to the other inmates of the castle, and the +poor woman who swept the floors, or, to speak technically, +the <i>pra-pra</i> woman, was made ill by her fright. She +was one day sweeping the boards of the great hall with a +short broom, and in an attitude nearly approaching to +all-fours, and Saï, who was hidden under one of the sofas, +suddenly leaped upon her back, where he stood in triumph. +She screamed so violently as to summon the other servants, +but they, seeing the panther, as they thought, in the act of +swallowing her, one and all scampered off as quickly as +possible; nor was she released till the governor, who heard +the noise, came to her assistance. Strangers were naturally +uncomfortable when they saw so powerful a beast at perfect +liberty, and many were the ridiculous scenes which took +place, they not liking to own their alarm, yet perfectly +unable to retain their composure in his presence.</p> + +<p>This interesting animal was well fed twice every day, but +never given any thing with life in it. He stood about two +feet high, and was of a dark yellow colour, thickly spotted +with black rosettes, and from the good feeding and the care +taken to clean him, his skin shone like silk. The expression +of his countenance was very animated and good-tempered, and +he was particularly gentle to children; he would lie down on +the mats by their side when they slept, and even the infant +shared his caresses, and remained unhurt. During the period +of his residence at Cape Coast, I was much occupied by +making arrangements for my departure from Africa, but +generally visited my future companion every day, and we, in +consequence, became great friends before we sailed. He was +conveyed on board the vessel in a large, wooden cage, +thickly barred in the front with iron. +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page38" name="page38"></a>[pg +38]</span> + Even this confinement was not deemed a sufficient protection by the + canoe men,<a href="#fn1"><sup>1</sup></a> <a name ="fn1ref"></a>who + were so alarmed at taking him from the shore to the vessel, that, + in their confusion, they dropped cage and all into the sea. For a + few minutes I gave up my poor panther as lost, but some sailors + jumped into a boat belonging to the vessel, and dragged him out in + safety. The beast himself seemed completely subdued by his ducking, + and as no one dared to open his cage to dry it, he rolled himself + up in one corner, nor roused himself till after an interval of some + days, when he recognised my voice. When I first spoke, he raised + his head, held it on one side, then on the other, to listen; and + when I came fully into his view, he jumped on his legs, and + appeared frantic; he rolled himself over and over, he howled, he + opened his enormous jaws and cried, and seemed as if he would have + torn his cage to pieces. However, as his violence subsided, he + contented himself with thrusting his paws and nose through the bars + of the cage, to receive my caresses.</p> + +<p>The greatest treat I could bestow upon my favourite was +lavender water. Mr. Hutchison had told me that, on the way +from Ashantee, he drew a scented handkerchief from his +pocket, which was immediately seized on by the panther, who +reduced it to atoms; nor could he venture to open a bottle +of perfume when the animal was near, he was so eager to +enjoy it. I indulged him twice a week by making a cup of +stiff paper, pouring a little lavender water into it, and +giving it to him through the bars of his cage: he would drag +it to him with great eagerness, roll himself over it, nor +rest till the smell had evaporated. By this I taught him to +put out his paws without showing his nails, always refusing +the lavender water till he had drawn them back again; and in +a short time he never, on any occasion, protruded his claws +when offering me his paw.</p> + +<p>We lay eight weeks in the river Gaboon, where he had plenty +of excellent food, but was never suffered to leave his cage, +on account of the deck being always filled with black +strangers, to whom he had a very decided aversion, although +he was perfectly reconciled to white people. His +indignation, however, was constantly excited by the pigs, +when they were suffered to run past his cage; and the sight +of one of the monkeys put him in a complete fury. While at +anchor in the before-mentioned river, an orang-outang (Símia +Sátyrus) was brought for sale, and lived three days on +board; and I shall never forget the uncontrollable rage of +the one, or the agony of the other, at this meeting. The +orang was about three feet high, and very powerful in +proportion to his size; so that when he fled with +extraordinary rapidity from the panther to the further end +of the deck, neither men nor things remained upright when +they opposed his progress: there he took refuge in a sail, +and although generally obedient to the voice of his master, +force was necessary to make him quit the shelter of its +folds. As to the panther, his back rose in an arch, his tail +was elevated and perfectly stiff, his eyes flashed, and, as +he howled, he showed his huge teeth; then, as if forgetting +the bars before him, he tried to spring on the orang, to +tear him to atoms. It was long before he recovered his +tranquillity; day and night he appeared to be on the listen; +and the approach of a large monkey we had on board, or the +intrusion of a black man, brought a return of his agitation.</p> + +<p>We at length sailed for England, with an ample supply of +provisions; but, unhappily, we were boarded by pirates +during the voyage, and nearly reduced to starvation. My +panther must have perished had it not been for a collection +of more than three hundred parrots, with which we sailed +from the river, and which died very fast while we were in +the northwest trades. Saï’s allowance was one per diem, but +this was so scanty a pittance that he became ravenous, and +had not patience to pick all the feathers off before he +commenced his meal. The consequence was, that he became very +ill, and refused even this small quantity of food. Those +around tried to persuade me that he suffered from the colder +climate; but his dry nose and paw convinced me that he was +feverish, and I had him taken out of his cage; when, instead +of jumping about and enjoying his liberty, he lay down, and +rested his head upon my feet. I then made him three pills, +each containing two grains of calomel. The boy who had the +charge of him, and who was much attached to him, held his +jaws open, and I pushed the medicine down his throat. Early +the next morning I went to visit my patient, and found his +guard sleeping in the cage with him; and having administered +a further dose to the invalid, I had the satisfaction of +seeing him perfectly cured by the evening. On the arrival of +the vessel in the London Docks, Saï was taken ashore, and +presented to the Duchess of York, who placed him in Exeter +Change, to be taken care of, till she herself went to +Oatlands. He +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page39" name="page39"></a>[pg +39]</span> +remained there for some weeks, and was suffered to roam about the +greater part of the day without any restraint. On the morning +previous to the Duchess’s departure from town, she went to +visit her new pet, played with him, and admired his healthy +appearance and gentle deportment. In the evening, when her Royal +Highness’ coachman went to take him away, he was dead, in +consequence of an inflammation on his lungs—<i>Loudon’s +Magazine of Natural History.</i></p> + +<br /><hr class="full" /><br /> + +<h2>Manners & Customs of all Nations</h2> + +<h3>SACRAMENTAL BREAD.</h3> + +<p>The church of Rome, in the height of its power, was extremely +scrupulous in all that related to the sacramental bread. According +to Steevens, in his <i>Monasticon</i>, they first chose the wheat, +grain by grain, and washed it very carefully. Being put into a bag, +appointed only for that use, a servant, known to be a just man, +carried it to the mill, worked the grindstones, covering them with +curtains above and below; and having put on himself an albe, covered +his face with a veil, nothing but his eyes appearing. The same +precaution was used with the meal. It was not baked till it had been +well washed; and the warden of the church, if he were either priest +or deacon, finished the work, being assisted by two other religious +men, who were in the same orders, and by a lay brother, particularly +appointed for that business. These four monks, when matins were +ended, washed their faces and hands. The three first of them put on +albes; one of them washed the meal with pure, clean water, and the +other two baked the hosts in the iron moulds. So great was the +veneration and respect, say their historians, the monks of Cluni +paid to the Eucharist! Even at this day, in the country, the baker +who prepares the sacramental wafer, must be appointed and authorized +to do it by the Catholic bishop of the district, as appears by the +advertisement inserted in that curious book, published annually, +<i>The Catholic Laity’s Directory</i>.</p> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<h3> FOSTER CHILDREN.</h3> + +<p> There still remains in the Hebrides, though it is passing fast +away, the custom of fosterage. A laird, a man of wealth and +eminence, sends his child, either male or female, to a tacksman or +tenant to be fostered. It is not always his own tenant, but some +distant friend that obtains this honour; for an honour such a trust +is very reasonably thought. The terms of fosterage seem to vary in +different islands. In Mull, the father sends with his child a +certain number of cows, to which the same number is added by the +fosterer. The father appropriates a proportionable extent of ground, +without rent, for their pasturage. If every cow bring a calf, half +belongs to the fosterer, and half to the child; but if there be only +one calf between two cows, it is the child’s; and when the +child returns to the parents, it is accompanied with all the cows +given, both by the father and by the fosterer, with half of the +increase of the stock by propagation. These beasts are considered as +a portion, and called <i>Macalive</i> cattle, &c.</p> + +<p>Children continue with the fosterer perhaps six years; and +cannot, where this is the practice, be considered as burdensome. The +fosterer, if he gives four cows, receives likewise four, and has, +while the child continues with him, grass for eight without rent, +with half the calves, and all the milk, for which he pays only four +cows, when he dismisses his <i>dalt</i>, for that is the name for a +fostered child.—<i>Johnson’s Journey</i>.</p> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<h3> THE IRISH PEOPLE.</h3> + +<p> Holinshed, speaking of the Irish, observes:—“Greedy +of praise they be, and fearful of dishonour; and to this end they +esteem their poets, who write Irish learnedly, and pen their sonnets +heroical, for the which they are bountifully rewarded; if not, they +send out libels in dispraise, whereof the lords and gentlemen stand +in great awe. They love tenderly their foster children, and bequeath +to them a child’s fortune, whereby they nourish sure +friendship,—so beneficent every way, that commonly 500 cows +and better are given in reward to win a nobleman’s child to +foster; they love and trust their foster children more than their +own. Proud they are of long crisped bushes of hair, which they term +<i>libs</i>. They observe divers degrees, according to which each +man is regarded. The basest sort among them are little young wasps, +called <i>daltins</i>: these are lacqueys, and are serviceable to +the grooms, or horseboys, who are a degree above the daltins. The +third degree is the <i>kaerne</i>, which is an ordinary soldier, +using for weapon his sword and target, and sometimes his piece, +being commonly so good marksmen, as they will come within a score of +a great cartele. The fourth degree is a <i>gallowglass</i>, using a +kind of poll-axe for his weapon, strong, robust men, chiefly feeding +on beef, pork, and butter. The fifth degree is to be a horseman, +which is the <span class="pagenum"><a id="page40" +name="page40"></a>[pg 40]</span> chiefest, next to the lord and +captain. These horsemen, when they have no stay of their own, gad +and range from house to house, and never dismount till they ride +into the hall, and as far as the tables.”</p> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<h3>MARRIAGE.</h3> + +<p>The minister of Logierait, in Perthshire, in his statistical +account of that parish, supplies us with the following curious +information on this and other marriage +ceremonies:—“Immediately before the celebration of the +marriage ceremony, every knot about the bride and bridegroom +(garters, shoe-strings, strings of petticoats, &c.) is carefully +loosed. After leaving the church, the whole company walk round it, +keeping the church walls always upon the right hand; the bridegroom, +however, first retires one way, with some young men, to tie the +knots that were loosened about him, while the young married woman, +in the same manner, retires somewhere else to adjust the disorder of +her dress.”</p> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<h3>NEEDFIRE.</h3> + +<p>The following extract contains a distinct and interesting account +of this very ancient superstition, as used in Caithness:</p> + +<p>“In 1788, when the stock of any considerable farmer was +seized with the murrain, he would send for one of the charm doctors +to superintend the raising of a <i>needfire</i>. It was done by +friction, thus: upon any small island, where the stream of a river +or burn ran on each side, a circular booth was erected, of stone and +turf, as it could be had, in which a semicircular or highland couple +of birch, or other hard wood, was set; and, in short, a roof closed +on it. A straight pole was set up in the centre of this building, +the upper end fixed by a wooden pin to the top of the couple, and +the lower end in an oblong <i>trink</i> in the earth or floor; and +lastly, another pole was set across horizontally, having both ends +tapered, one end of which was supported in a hole in the side of the +perpendicular pole, and the other end in a similar hole in the +couple leg. The horizontal stick was called the auger, having four +short arms or levers fixed in its centre, to work it by; the +building having been thus finished, as many men as could be +collected in the vicinity, (being divested of all kinds of metal in +their clothes, &c.) would set to work with the said auger, two +after two, constantly turning it round by the arms or levers, and +others occasionally driving wedges of wood or stone behind the lower +end of the upright pole, so as to press it the more on the end of +the auger; by this constant friction and pressure, the ends of the +auger would take fire, from which a fire would be instantly kindled, +and thus the <i>needfire</i> would be accomplished. The fire in the +farmer’s house, &c. was immediately quenched with water, a +fire kindled from this <i>needfire</i>, both in the farm-house and +offices, and the cattle brought to feel the smoke of this new and +sacred fire, which preserved them from the murrain. So much for +superstition.—It is handed down by tradition, that the ancient +Druids superintended a similar ceremony of raising a sacred fire, +annually, on the first day of May. That day is still, both in the +Gaelic and Irish dialects, called <i>Lâ-bealtin, i.e.</i> the day +of Baal’s fire, or the fire dedicated to Baal, or the +sun.”</p> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<h3> UNSPOKEN WATER</h3> + +<p>In Scotland, water from under a bridge, over which the living +pass and the dead are carried, brought in the dawn or twilight to +the house of a sick person, without the bearer’s speaking, +either in going or returning, is called <i>Unspoken Water</i>.</p> + +<p>The modes of application are various. Sometimes the invalid takes +three draughts of it before anything is spoken. Sometimes it is +thrown over the houses the vessel in which it was contained being +thrown after it. The superstitious believe this to be one of the +most powerful charms that can be employed for restoring a sick +person to health.</p> + +<p>The purifying virtue attributed to water, by almost all nations, +is so well known as to require no illustration. Some special virtue +has still been ascribed to silence in the use of charms, exorcisms, +&c. I recollect, says Mr. Jamieson, being assured at Angus, that +a Popish priest in that part of the country, who was supposed to +possess great power in curing those who were deranged, and in +exorcising demoniacs, would, if called to see a patient, on no +account utter a single word on his way, or after arriving at the +house, till he had by himself gone through all his appropriate forms +in order to effect a cure. Whether this practice might be founded on +our Lord’s injunction to the Seventy, expressive of the +diligence he required, Luke x. 4, “Salute no man by the +way,” or borrowed from heathen superstition, it is impossible +to ascertain. We certainly know that the Romans viewed silence as of +the utmost importance in their sacred rites. Hence the phrase of +Virgil,—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<p>“Fida silentia sacris.”</p> +</div> +<p><i>Fauere sacris</i>, <i>fauere linguis</i>, and +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page41" name="page41"></a>[pg +41]</span> <i>pascere linguam</i>, +were forms of speech appropriated to their sacred rites, by which +they enjoined silence, that the act of worship might not be +disturbed by the slightest noise or murmur. Hence also they honoured +Harpocrates as the god of silence; and Numa instituted the worship +of a goddess under the name of <i>Tacita</i>.</p> +<br /> +<hr class="full" /> +<br /> + +<h2>SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY</h2> + +<h3>FILTERING APPARATUS.</h3> + +<p class="centre"><i><big>(To the Editor of the Mirror.)</big></i></p> + +<div class="figure" style="width: 80%;"><a href= +"images/323-2.png"><img width="40%" src="images/323-2.png" alt= +"Filtering Apparatus" /></a></div> + +<p class="centre">A A. <i>The Pot.</i> B B. <i>The Triangular Board.</i> C. <i>The Cover.</i> +D. <i>Vessel to receive the Filtered Water.</i><br /> +E. <i>Dotted Line, showing the Proportion of Charcoal and Sand.</i></p> + + +<p>Herewith I send you an outline drawing of an economical filtering +apparatus, suitable for the use of any dwelling. Its construction is +perfectly simple, and at the cost of a few shillings in its +erection. The pot consists of an unglazed inverted vessel, +manufactured at potteries for the use of sugar-bakers, and placed +through a hole in a triangular board, resting upon two ledges, +occupying a corner in a kitchen or any other apartment. In the +inside of the pot a bushel of the whitest sand is to be introduced; +which sand, after being washed in a clean tub with about three +changes of water, to dissolve and clear away the clayey matter, is +to be mixed with half a peck of finely-bruised charcoal. This will +fill about one-third of the pot; but before the sand is placed in +the vessel, the small hole at the bottom of the pot should have an +oyster-shell placed over it, with the convex side uppermost, to +prevent the sand washing through. This filters foul water perfectly +pellucid and clear very quickly, as I have seen its effects for +years with the most perfect success. When the sand becomes foul by +time, it can be taken out and washed, or fresh materials can be +repeated; great care should be observed not to put more water in the +pot than your vessel underneath will receive.</p> + +<p class="author">JNO. FIELD.</p> + +<hr /> +<br /> +<h3>Effects of Lightning.</h3> + +<p>The analogy between the electric spark, and more especially of the +explosive discharge of the Leyden jar, with atmospheric lightning +and thunder, is too obvious to have escaped notice, even in the +early periods of electrical research. It had been observed by Dr. +Wall and by Gray, and still more pointedly remarked by the Abbé +Nollet. Dr. Franklin was so impressed with the many points of +resemblance between lightning and electricity, that he was convinced +of their identity, and determined to ascertain by direct experiment +the truth of his bold conjecture. A spire which was erecting at +Philadelphia he conceived might assist him in this inquiry; but, +while waiting for its completion, the sight of a boy’s kite, which +had been raised for amusement, immediately suggested to him a more +ready method of attaining his object. Having constructed a kite by +stretching a large silk handkerchief over two sticks in the form of +a cross, on the first appearance of an approaching storm, in June +1752, he went out into a field, accompanied by his son, to whom +alone he had imparted his design. Having raised his kite, and +attached a key to the lower end of the hempen string, he insulated +it by fastening it to a post, by means of silk, and waited with +intense anxiety for the result. A considerable time elapsed without +the apparatus giving any sign of electricity, even although a dense +cloud, apparently charged with lightning, had passed over the spot +on which they stood. Franklin was just beginning to despair of +success, when his attention was caught by the bristling up of some +loose fibres on the hempen cord; he immediately presented his +knuckle to the key, and received an electric spark. Overcome with +the emotion +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page42" name="page42"></a>[pg +42]</span> +inspired by this decisive evidence of the great discovery he had +achieved, he heaved a deep sigh, and conscious of an immortal name, +felt that he could have been content if that moment had been his +last. The rain now fell in torrents, and wetting the string, +rendered it conducting in its whole length; so that electric sparks +were now collected from it in great abundance.</p> + +<p>It should be noticed, however, that about a month before Franklin +had made these successful trials, some philosophers, in particular +Dalibard and De Lors, had obtained similar results in France, by +following the plan recommended by Franklin. But the glory of the +discovery is universally given to Franklin, as it was from his +suggestions that the methods of attaining it were originally +derived.</p> + +<p>This important discovery was prosecuted with great ardour by +philosophers in every part of Europe. The first experimenters +incurred considerable risk in their attempts to draw down +electricity from the clouds, as was soon proved by the fatal +catastrophe, which, on the 6th of August, 1753, befel Professor +Richman, of Petersburg. He had constructed an apparatus for +observations on atmospherical electricity, and was attending a +meeting of the Academy of Sciences, when the sound of distant +thunder caught his ear. He immediately hastened home, taking with +him his engraver, Sokolow, in order that he might delineate the +appearances that should present themselves. While intent upon +examining the electrometer, a large globe of fire flashed from the +conducting rod, which was insulated, to the head of Richman, and +passing through his body, instantly deprived him of life. A red spot +was found on his forehead, where the electricity had entered, his +shoe was burst open, and part of his clothes singed. His companion +was struck down, and remained senseless for some time; the door-case +of the room was split, and the door itself torn off its hinges.</p> + +<p>The protection of buildings from the effects of lightning, is the +most important practical application of the theory of electricity. +Conductors for this should be formed of metallic rods, pointed at +the upper extremity, and placed so as to project a few feet above +the highest part of the building they are intended to secure; they +should be continued without interruption till they descend into the +ground, below the foundation of the house. Copper is preferable to +iron as the material for their construction, being less liable to +destruction by rust, or by fusion, and possessing also a greater +conducting power. The size of the rods should be from half an inch +to an inch in diameter, and the point should be gilt, or made of +platina, that it may be more effectually preserved from corrosion. +An important condition in the protecting conductor is, that no +interruption should exist in its continuity from top to bottom; and +advantage will result from connecting together by strips of metal +all the leaden water pipes, or other considerable masses of metal in +or about the building, so as to form one continuous system of +conductors, for carrying the electricity by different channels to +the ground. The lower end of the conductors should be carried down +into the earth till it reaches either water, or at least a moist +stratum.—<i>Library of Useful Knowledge.</i></p> + +<br /> +<hr class="full" /> +<br /> +<h2>The Sketch-Book.</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h3>THE MYSTERIOUS TAILOR.</h3> + +<p class="centre"><i>A Romance of High Holborn.</i></p> + +<p>It came to pass that, towards the close of 1826, I found occasion +to change my tailor, and by chance, or the recommendation of +friends—I cannot now remember which—applied to one who +vegetated in that particular region of the metropolis where the +rivers of Museum-street and Drury-lane (to adopt the language of +metaphor) flow into and form the capacious estuary of High Holborn. +Whoever has sailed along, or cast anchor in this confluence, must +have seen the individual I allude to. He sits—I should perhaps +say sat, inasmuch as he is since defunct—bolt upright, with a +pen behind his ear, in the centre of a dingy, spectral-looking shop, +quaintly hung round with clothes, of divers forms and patterns, in +every stage of existence—from the first crude conception of +the incipient surtout or pantaloons, down to the last glorious touch +that immortalizes the artist. His figure is slim and undersized; his +cheeks are sallow, with two furrows on each side his nose, filled +not unfrequently with snuff; his eyes project like lobsters’, +and cast their shifting glances about with a vague sort of +mysterious intelligence; and his voice—his startling, solemn, +unearthly voice—seems hoarse with sepulchral vapours, and puts +forth its tones like the sighing of the wind among tombs. With +regard to his dress, it is in admirable keeping with his +countenance. He wears a black coat, fashioned in the mould of other +times, with large cloth buttons and flowing skirts; drab +inexpressibles, fastened at the knee with brass buckles; gaiters, +which, reaching no higher than +<span class="pagenum"><a id="page43" name="page43"></a>[pg +43]</span> +the calf of the leg, set up independent claims to eccentricity and +exact consideration on their own account; creaking, square-toed +shoes; and a hat, broad in front, pinched up at the sides, verging +to an angle behind, and worn close over the forehead, with the lower +part resting on the nose. His manner is equally peculiar; it cannot +be called vulgar, nor yet genteel—for it is too passive for +the one, and too pompous for the other; it forms, say, a sort of +compromise between the two, with a slight infusion of pedantry that +greatly adds to its effect. </p> + +<p> On reaching this oddity’s abode, I at once proceeded to +business; and was promised, in reply, the execution of my order on +the customary terms of credit. Thus far is strictly natural. The +clothes came home, and so, with admirable punctuality, did the bill; +but the death of a valued friend having withdrawn me, soon +afterwards, from London, six months elapsed; at the expiration of +which time I was refreshed, as agreed on, by a pecuniary application +from my tailor. Perhaps I should here mention, to the better +understanding of my tale, that I am a medical practitioner, of +somewhat nervous temperament, derived partly from inheritance, and +partly from an inveterate indulgence of the imagination. My income, +too—which seldom or never encumbers a surgeon who has not yet +done walking the hospitals—is limited, and, at this present +period, was so far contracted as to keep me in continual suspense. +In this predicament my tailor’s memorandum was any thing but +satisfactory. I wrote accordingly to entreat his forbearance for six +months longer, and, as I received no reply, concluded that all was +satisfactorily arranged. Unluckily, however, as I was strolling, +about a month afterwards, along the Strand, I chanced to stumble up +against him. The shock seemed equally unexpected on both sides; but +my tailor (as being a dun) was the first to recover self-possession; +and, with a long preliminary hem!—a mute, but expressive +compound of remonstrance, apology, and resolution—opened his +fire as follows:— </p> + +<p>“I believe, sir, your name is D——?” +</p> + +<p>“I believe it is, sir.” </p> + +<p>“Well, then, Mr. D——, touching that little +account between us, I have to request, sir, that—” </p> + +<p>“Very good; nothing can be more reasonable; wait the +appointed time, and you shall have all.” </p> + +<p> This answer served, in some degree, to appease him; no, not +exactly to appease him, because that would imply previous +excitement, and he was invariably imperturbable in manner; it +satisfied him, however, for the present, and he forthwith walked +away, casting on me that equivocal sort of look with which Ajax +turned from Ulysses, or Dido from Æneas, in the Shades. </p> + +<p> A lapse of a few weeks ensued, during which I heard nothing +further from my persecutor; when, one dark November +evening—one of those peculiarly English evenings, full of fog +and gloom, when the half-frozen sleet, joined in its descent by +gutters from the house-tops, comes driving full in your face, +blinding you to all external objects—on one of these blessed +evenings, on my road to Camden Town, I chanced to miss my way, and +was compelled, notwithstanding a certain shyness towards strangers, +to ask my direction of the first respectable person I should meet. +Many passed me by, but none sufficiently prepossessing; when, on +turning down some nameless street that leads to Tottenham +Court-road, I chanced to come behind a staid-looking gentleman, +accoutred in a dark brown coat, with an umbrella—the cotton of +which had shrunk half-way up the whalebone—held obliquely over +his head. Hastily stepping up to him, “Pray, sir,” said +I, “could you be kind enough to direct me to —— +place, Camden Town?” </p> + +<p> The unknown, thus addressed, made the slightest possible +inclination towards me; and then, in an under tone, “I +believe, sir, your name is D——?” </p> + +<p> I paused; a vague sort of recollection came over me. Could it +be?—no, surely not! And yet the voice—the +manner—the—the— </p> + +<p> My suspicions were soon converted into certainty, when the +stranger, with his own peculiar expression, quietly broke forth a +second time with, “Touching that little account—” +</p> + +<p> This was enough; it was more than enough—it was +vexatiously superfluous. To be dunned for a debt, at the very time +when the nerves could best dispense with the application; to be +recalled back to the vulgarities of existence, at that precise +moment when the imagination was most abstracted from all commercial +common-places; to be stopped by a tailor, (and such a tailor!) when +the mind was dreaming of a mistress—the bare idea was +intolerable! So I thought; and, without further explanation, hurried +precipitately from the spot, nor ever once paused till far removed +from the husky tones of that sepulchral voice which had once before +so highly excited my annoyance. </p> + +<p> [The narrater then visits one of Mr. Champagne Wright’s +masquerades, where he falls in love with a <i>fresco</i> nun. He +receives a billet.] </p> + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a id="page44" name="page44"></a>[pg +44]</span>I stood like one bewildered; but, soon recovering my +self-possession, moved direct towards the chandelier, with a view to +peruse an epistle expressive of woman’s fondest love. As with +glistening eyes I proceeded to tear open the billet, a flood of +transporting thoughts swept over me. I fancied that I was on the eve +of acquaintance with ——; but, judge my astonishment, +when, instead of the expected document, the key to such transporting +bliss, I read, engraved in large German text, on a dirty square +card, embossed at the edge with flowers, the revolting, +business-like address of </p> + +<div class="figure" style="width:60%;"><a href="images/323-3.png"> +<img width="60%" src="images/323-3.png" alt= +"Calling card" /></a></div> + + +<p> It so happened that, the next day, I dined with C——. +Of course the masquerade, and with that the tailor, were the first +topics of conversation between us. Both allowed that the +circumstances respecting his late appearance were uncommon; but +there, with my friend, the matter ended: with me it was a more +enduring subject for reflection; and, after a night kept up till a +late hour over a bowl of C——’s most faultless punch, I +set out, moody and apprehensive, to my humble abode. By this time it +was past three o’clock; the streets were nearly all deserted. +—While thoughtfully plodding onwards, a sudden noise from the +Holborn end of Drury-lane took my attention; it evidently proceeded +from a row—a systematic, scientific row; and, indeed, as I +drew near the scene of action, I could distinctly hear the +watchman’s oaths blending in deep chorus with the treble of some +dozen or two valorous exquisites. </p> + +<p> I felt certain rising abstract ideas of pugnacity, and conceived +myself bound to indulge them on the first head and shoulders I +should meet. This spirit brought me at once into the thick of the +fight, and, before I was well aware of my proximity, I found myself +fast anchored alongside a veteran watchman, with a pigtail and half +a nose. The conflict now commenced in good earnest; there were few +or no attempts at favouritism; the blows of one friend told equally +well on the scull of another; watchman assaulted watchman with a +zeal respectable for its sincerity; and, indeed, had these last been +any thing more than a bundle of old coats and oaths, they would most +undoubtedly have drubbed each other into a better world. After a +lively and well-sustained affair of about twenty minutes, a squadron +of auxiliary watchmen arrived, and, with some difficulty, deposited +us all safely in the watch-house. And here the very first person +that met my gaze—seated, with due regard to dignity, in an +arm-chair, a pair of spectacles on his nose, a glass of +brandy-and-water by his side, and a newspaper, redolent of cheese, +before him—was the constable of the night—the nun of the +masquerade—the Mysterious Tailor of High Holborn! The +wretch’s eyes gleamed with a savage but subdued joy at the +recognition; a low, chuckling laugh escaped him; while his dull +countenance, made doubly revolting by the dim light of the +watch-house, fell, fixed and scowling, upon me, as he pointed +towards the spot where I stood.—“Dobson,” he +exclaimed; and, at the word, forth stepped the owner of this +melodious appellative, with “this here man.” +—Luckily, before he could finish his charge, a +five-shilling-piece, which I thrust into his unsuspecting palm, +created a diversion among the watchmen in my behalf; under favour of +which, while my arch enemy was adjusting his books, I contrived to +escape from his detested presence. </p> + +<p> It happened that about a month subsequent to this last +rencontre, circumstances led me to Bologne, whither I arrived, late +in the evening, by the steamboat. On being directed to the best +English hotel in that truly social Anglo-Gallic little town, I +chanced to find in the coffee-room an old crony, whom I had known +years since at Cambridge, and who had just arrived from Switzerland, +on a speculation connected with some vineyards. </p> + +<p> I had a thousand questions to ask my friend, a thousand memories +to disinter from their graves in my heart, past follies to re-enact, +past scenes to re-people. We began with our school-days, pursued the +subject to Cambridge, carried it back again to Reading, and thence +traced it through all its windings, now in sunshine, now in gloom, +till the canvass of our recollection was fairly filled with +portraits. In this way, time, unperceived, slipped on; noon deepened +into evening, evening blackened into midnight, yet nothing but our +wine was exhausted. </p> + +<p> At last, after a long evening spent in the freest and most +social converse, my friend quitted the coffee-room, while +I—imitating, as I went, the circumlocutory windings of the +Meander—proceeded to my allotted chamber. Unfortunately, on +reaching the head of the first staircase, where two opposite doors +presented themselves, I opened (as a matter of course) the wrong +one, which led me into a spacious apartment, in which were placed +two fat, full-grown beds. My lantern happening to go out at the +moment, I <span class="pagenum"><a id="page45" name="page45"></a>[pg +45]</span> was compelled to forego all further scrutiny, so without +more ado, flung off my clothes, and dived, at one dexterous plunge, +right into the centre of the nearest vacant bed. In an instant I was +fast asleep; my imagination, oppressed with the day’s events, +had +become fairly exhausted, and I now lay chained down in that heavy, +dreamless sleep, which none but fatigued travellers can appreciate. +Towards daybreak, I was roused by a peculiar long-drawn snore, +proceeding from the next bed. The music, though deep, was gusty, +vulgar, and ludicrous, like a west wind whistling through a +wash-house. I should know it among a thousand snores. At first I +took no notice of this diversified sternutation, but as it deepened +every moment in energy, terminating in something like a groan, I was +compelled to pay it the homage of my admiration and astonishment. +This attention, however, soon flagged; in a few minutes I was a +second time asleep, nor did I again awake till the morning was far +advanced. At this eventful juncture, while casting my eyes round the +room with all the voluptuous indolence of a jaded traveller, they +suddenly chanced to fall on a gaunt, spectral figure, undressed, +unwashed, unshaved, decked out in a red worsted night-cap, its left +cheek swollen, as if with cold or tooth-ache, and seated bolt +upright in the very next bed, scarce six inches off my nose. And +this figure was——but I need add no more; the reader must +by this time have fully anticipated my discovery. </p> + +<p> That night I started from Bologne. I could no more have endured +to stop there, conscious that the town contained my persecutor, than +I could have flown. Accordingly, after a hurried breakfast, I +proceeded to arrange what little business I had to transact; and +this completed, away I posted to the well-known shop of Monsieur +——, dentist, perruquier, and general agent to the +steam-packet company. Fortunately the little man was at home, and +received me with his usual courtesy. He was very, very sorry that he +could not stay to converse with me, but a patient in the inner +parlour required his immediate attendance; he must +therefore—. I entreated him not to apologize; my +business was simple—it was merely to ascertain at what hour +the first packet sailed; and having so said, and received a +satisfactory reply, I prepared to quit the shop, when just as I was +turning round to shut the door, I caught a glimpse through the +half-closed curtains that shaded the inner room of a cheek and one +eye. The cheek was swollen, and a solitary patch of snuff rested, +like a fly, upon its surface. It was the Mysterious Tailor; he had +come in to have his tooth pulled out. </p> + +<p> Notwithstanding my anxiety to quit Bologne, it was evening +before I was on board the packet; nor did I feel myself at ease, +until the heights had dwindled to a speck, and the loud carols of +the fishermen returning home from their day’s sport, had sunk +into a faint, undistinguished whisper. Our vessel’s course for +the first hour or so was delightful. Towards night, the weather, +which had hitherto proved so serene, began to fluctuate; the wind +shifted, and gradually a heavy swell came rolling in from the +north-east towards us. As the hour advanced, a storm seemed +advancing with it; and a hundred symptoms appeared, the least of +which was fully sufficient to certify the coming on of a tremendous +hurricane. Our captain, however—a bronzed, pinched-up little +fellow, whom a series of north-westers seemed to have dried to a +mummy—put a good face on the matter, and our mate whistled +bluffly, though I could not help fancying that his whistle had +something forced about it. </p> + +<p> We had by this time been tossing about upwards of four hours, +yet despite the storm, which increased every moment in energy, our +vessel bore up well, labouring and pitching frightfully to be sure, +but as yet uninjured in sail, mast, or hull. As for her course, it +was—so the mate assured me—“ a moral impossible to +say which way we were bound, whether for a trip to Spain, Holland, +or Van Dieman’s Land; it might be one, it might be +t’other.” Scarcely had he uttered these words, when a +long rolling sea came sweeping on in hungry grandeur towards us, and +at one rush tore open the ship’s gun-wale, which now, +completely at the mercy of the wave, went staggering, drunken, and +blindfold, through the surge. From this fatal moment the sailors +were kept constantly at the pumps, although so instantaneous was the +rush of water into the hold, that they did little or no good; there +seemed, in fact, not the ghost of a chance left us; even the mate +had ceased whistling, and the captain’s oaths began to assume +the nature of a compromise between penitence and hardihood. </p> + +<p> It was now midnight, deep, awful midnight; the few remaining +passengers had left the deck and retreated into a bed which they +shared in common with the salt water. The Captain stood, like one +bewildered, beside the helm, while I lay stretched along the +forecastle, watching, as well as I could, the tremendous rushing of +the waves. It was during a partial hush of the storm, when the wind, +as if out of breath, was still, that a shifting <span +class="pagenum"><a id="page46" name="page46"></a>[pg 46]</span> +light attached to some moving body, came bearing down full upon +us.</p> + +<p>“This is an ugly night, sir,” said the Captain, who +now, for the first time, found words, “yet methinks I see a +sail a-head.”</p> + +<p>“Surely not,” I replied, “no earthly vessel but +our own can live on such a sea.”</p> + +<p>Scarcely had the words escaped me, when “helm a lee!” +was roared out in a loud emphatic tone, something between rage and +fright.</p> + +<p>The captain strove to turn his helm, but in vain, the rudder had +lost all power. At this instant, a rushing sound swept past us, and +the two ships came in direct contact with each other. The crash was +tremendous: down with a dizzy spinning motion went the strange +vessel; one yell—but one shrill piercing yell, which is ever +sounding in my ears, ensued—a pause, and all was over. </p> + +<p>My heart died within me at that cry; an icy shudder crept through +me, every hair of my head seemed endowed with separate vitality. To +go down into the tomb—and such a tomb!—unwept, unknown, +the very lights from the English coast still discernible in +distance, yet not a friend to hold forth aid; the idea was +inexpressibly awful. Just at this crisis, while grasping the +bannister with weak hands, I lay faint and hopeless on the deck, I +fancied I saw a dark figure crawling up the cabin-steps towards me. +I listened; the sound drew near, the form advanced, already it +touched that part of the staircase to which I clung. Was it the +phantom of one of those wretches who had just met death? Had it come +fresh from eternity, the taint of recent earth yet hanging about it, +to warn me of my own departure? A sudden vivid flash enabled me to +dispel all doubt; the dull, grey eye, and thin furrowed form, were +not to be so mistaken; the voice too—but why prolong the +mystery? it was my old unforgotten persecutor, the Mysterious Tailor +of High Holborn. What followed I know not: overpowered by previous +excitement, and the visitation of this infernal phantom, my brain +spun round—my heart ticked audibly like a clock—my +tongue glued to my mouth—I sank senseless at the cabin +door.</p> + +<p class="author"><i>(To be concluded in our next.)</i></p> +<br /> +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS</h2> +<hr /> +<h3>NORFOLK PUNCH.</h3> + +<h4>AN INCANTATION.</h4> +<div class="poem"> + <p>Twenty quarts of real Nantz,</p> + <p>Eau-de-vie of southern France;</p> + <p>By Arabia’s chemic skill,</p> + <p>Sublimed, condensed, in trickling still;</p> + <p>’Tis the grape’s abstracted soul,</p> + <p>And the first matter of the bowl.</p> + + <p class="stanza">Oranges, with skins of gold,</p> + <p>Like Hesperian fruit of old,</p> + <p>Whose golden shadow wont to quiver</p> + <p>In the stream of Guadalquiver,</p> + <p>Glowing, waving as they hung</p> + <p>Mid fragrant blossoms ever young,</p> + <p>In gardens of romantic Spain,—</p> + <p>Lovely land, and rich in vain!</p> + <p>Blest by nature’s bounteous hand,</p> + <p>Cursed with priests and Ferdinand!</p> + <p>Lemons, pale as Melancholy,</p> + <p>Or yellow russets, wan and holy.</p> + <p>Be their number twice fifteen,</p> + <p>Mystic number, well I ween,</p> + <p>As all must know, who aught can tell</p> + <p>Of sacred lore or glamour spell;</p> + <p>Strip them of their gaudy hides,</p> + <p>Saffron garb of Pagan brides,</p> + <p>And like the Argonauts of Greece,</p> + <p>Treasure up their Golden Fleece. </p> + + <p class="stanza">Then, as doctors wise preserve</p> + <p>Things from nature’s course that swerve,</p> + <p>Insects of portentous shape—worms,</p> + <p>Wreathed serpents, asps, and tape-worms,</p> + <p>Ill-fashion’d fishes, dead and swimming,</p> + <p>And untimely fruits of women;</p> + <p>All the thirty skins infuse</p> + <p>In Alcohol’s Phlogistic dews.</p> + <p>Steep them—till the blessed Sun</p> + <p>Through half his mighty round hath run—</p> + <p>Hours twelve—the time exact</p> + <p>Their inmost virtues to extract. </p> + + <p class="stanza">Lest the potion should be heady,</p> + <p>As Circe’s cup, or gin of Deady,</p> + <p>Water from the crystal spring.</p> + <p>Thirty quarterns, draw and bring;</p> + <p>Let it, after ebullition,</p> + <p>Cool to natural condition.</p> + <p>Add, of powder saccharine,</p> + <p>Pounds thrice five, twice superfine;</p> + <p>Mingle sweetest orange blood,</p> + <p>And the lemon’s acid flood;</p> + <p>Mingle well, and blend the whole</p> + <p>With the spicy Alcohol. </p> + + <p class="stanza">Strain the mixture, strain it well</p> + <p>Through such vessel, as in Hell</p> + <p>Wicked maids, with vain endeavour,</p> + <p>Toil to fill, and toil for ever.</p> + <p>Nine-and-forty Danaides, </p> + <p>Wedded maids, and virgin brides,</p> + <p>(So blind Gentiles did believe,)</p> + <p>Toil to fill a faithless sieve;</p> + <p>Thirsty thing, with naught content,</p> + <p>Thriftless and incontinent. </p> + + <p class="stanza">Then, to hold the rich infusion,</p> + <p>Have a barrel, not a huge one,</p> + <p>But clean and pure from spot or taint,</p> + <p>Pure as any female saint—</p> + <p>That within its tight-hoop’d gyre</p> + <p>Has kept Jamaica’s liquid fire;</p> + <p>Or luscious Oriental rack,</p> + <p>Or the strong glory of Cognac,</p> + <p>Whose perfume far outscents the Civet,</p> + <p>And all but rivals rare Glenlivet. </p> + + <p class="stanza">To make the compound soft as silk,</p> + <p>Quarterns twain of tepid milk,</p> + <p>Fit for babies, and such small game,</p> + <p>Diffuse through all the strong amalgame.</p> + <p>The fiery souls of heroes so do</p> + <p>Combine the <i>suaviter in modo</i>,</p> + <p>Bold as an eagle, meek as Dodo. </p> + + <p class="stanza">Stir it round, and round, and round,</p> + <p>Stow it safely under ground,</p> + <p>Bung’d as close as an intention</p> + <p>Which we <i>are</i> afraid to mention;</p> + <p>Seven days six times let pass,</p> + <p>Then pour it into hollow glass;</p> + <p>Be the vials clean and dry,</p> + <p>Corks as sound as chastity;—</p> +<span +class="pagenum"><a id="page47" name="page47"></a>[pg 47]</span> + <p>Years shall not impair the merit</p> + <p>Of the lively, gentle spirit. </p> + + <p class="stanza">Babylon’s Sardanapalus,</p> + <p>Rome’s youngster Heliogabalus,</p> + <p>Or that empurpled paunch, Vitellius,</p> + <p>So famed for appetite rebellious—</p> + <p>Ne’er, in all their vastly reign,</p> + <p>Such a bowl as this could drain.</p> + <p>Hark, the shade of old Apicius</p> + <p>Heaves his head, and cries—Delicious!</p> + <p>Mad of its flavour and its strength—he</p> + <p>Pronounces it the real Nepenthe. </p> + + <p class="stanza">’Tis the Punch, so clear and bland,</p> + <p>Named of Norfolk’s fertile land,</p> + <p>Land of Turkeys, land of Coke,</p> + <p>Who late assumed the nuptial yoke—</p> + <p>Like his county beverage,</p> + <p>Growing brisk and stout with age.</p> + <p>Joy I wish—although a Tory—</p> + <p>To a Whig, so gay and hoary—</p> + <p>May he, to his latest hour,</p> + <p>Flourish in his bridal bower—</p> + <p>Find wedded love no Poet’s fiction,</p> + <p>And Punch the only contradiction.</p> +</div> + + +<p><i>Blackwood’s Magazine.</i></p> + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>NOTES OF A READER</h2> +<hr /> +<h4>DUELLING.</h4> +<p> Two French officers resident at Kermanshaw, lately quarrelled; a +challenge ensued; but a reconciliation was effected; when the +incident drew forth the following natural and affecting remark from +a native:—“How foolish it is for a man who wishes to +kill his enemy, to expose his own life, when he can accomplish his +purpose with so much greater safety, by shooting at him from behind +a rock.” </p> +<hr /> +<h4>SPINNING VIRTUE.</h4> +<p> A young preacher, who chose to enlarge to a country congregation +on the beauty of <i>virtue</i>, was surprised to be informed of an +old woman, who expressed herself highly pleased with his sermon, +that her daughter was the most <i>virtuous</i> woman in the parish, +for “that week she had spun sax spyndles of +yarn.”—<i>Sir W. Scott</i>. </p> +<hr /> +<h4>AT LINCOLN</h4> +<p>There is a beautiful painted window, which was made by an +apprentice, out of the pieces of glass which had been rejected by +his master. It is so far superior to every other in the church, +that, according to the tradition, the vanquished artist killed +himself from mortification.</p> +<hr /> +<p> A great lawyer in the sister kingdom, when asked by the viceroy, +what Captain Keppel meant by his “<i>Personal</i> Travels in +India, &c.” replied, that lawyers were wont to use this +word in contradistinction to “<i>Real</i>.” </p> +<hr /> +<p>It is said that the intestines of the Carolina parrot are an +instantaneous poison to cats.</p> +<hr /> +<h4>CHINESE DUNNING.</h4> +<p>When a debtor refuses payment in China, the creditor, as a last +resource, threatens to carry off the door of his house on the first +day of the year. This is accounted the greatest misfortune that +could happen, as in that case there would be no obstruction to the +entrance of evil genii. To avoid this consummation, a debtor not +unfrequently sets fire to his house on the last night of the +year.</p> +<hr /> +<p>During the times of Catholicism in Scotland, <i>Fishing</i> was +prohibited from the Sabbath after vespers, till Monday after +sunrise. This was termed <i>Setterday’s Slopp</i>.</p> +<hr /> +<h4>THE TOWER OF BABEL,</h4> +<p>says a recent traveller in the east, now presents the appearance +of a large mound or hill, with a castle on the top, in mounting to +which, the traveller now and then discovers, through the light sandy +soil, that he is treading on a vast heap of bricks. The total +circumference of the ruin is 2,286 feet, though the building itself +was only 2,000, allowing 500 to the stadia, which Herodotus assigns +as the side of its square. The elevation of the west side is 198 +feet. What seems to be a castle at a distance, when examined, proves +to be a solid mass of kiln-burnt bricks, 37 feet high, and 28 +broad.</p> +<hr /> +<h4>SPANISH LITERATURE.</h4> +<p>The Spaniards are particularly averse to borrowing from the +intellectual treasures of other nations. They glean the field of +their own muses to the very last ear, and then commence the same +labour over again.</p> +<hr /> +<h4>EVERY MAN HIS OWN LAWYER.</h4> +<p> Here is a well-turned reply to plaintiff’s counsel, +available in all suits and times. It occurred in the trial of Lord +Danby, in the time of Charles II. “If the gentleman were as +just to produce all he knows for me, as he hath been malicious to +show what may be liable to misconstruction against me, no man could +vindicate me more than myself.” </p> +<hr /> +<p>In modern education there is a lamentable lack of veneration for +the great masters of English literature. Spenser, Milton, and Dryden +are altogether less familiar to the present generation than they +were to that which preceded it. “We will not say that our +Shakspeare is neglected, for his age is ever fresh and green, and he +comes reflected back to us from a thousand sources, whether in the +tranquillity of home, the turbulent life of capitals<span +class="pagenum"><a id="page48" name="page48"></a>[pg 48]</span>, or +the solitude of travel through distant lands.”—<i>Edin. +Rev.</i> +</p> +<hr /> +<h4>RISE AND FALL.</h4> +<p> What an idea of the dismantling of our nature do the few words +which Roper, Sir Thomas More’s son-in-law, relates, convey! He had +seen Henry VIII. walking round the chancellor’s garden at Chelsea, +with his arm round his neck; he could not help congratulating him on +being the object of so much kindness. “I thank our lord, I +find his grace my very good lord indeed; and I believe he doth as +singularly favour me as any subject in his realm. However, son +Roper, I may tell thee, I have no cause to be proud thereof, for if +my head would win a castle in France, it would not fail to be struck +off.”—<i>Edinburgh Review.</i></p> +<hr /> +<p>There is not only room, but use, for all that God has made in his +wisdom—a use not the less real, because not always tangible, or +immediate.—<i>Ibid.</i></p> +<hr /> +<p>Nicholas Brady, (the coadjutor of Tate, in arranging the New Version +of Psalms,) published a translation of the Æneid of Virgil, +which (says Johnson,) when dragged into the world, did not live long +enough to cry.</p> +<hr /> +<p>Blue appears to be the most important of all colours in the +gradations of society. A licensed beggar in Scotland, called a +bedesmen, is so privileged on receiving a <i>blue</i> gown. Pliny +informs us that blue was the colour in which the Gauls clothed their +slaves; and <i>blue</i> coats, for many ages, were the liveries of +servants, apprentices, and even of younger brothers, as now of the +Blue Coat Boys, and of other Blue Schools in the country. Women used +to do penance in <i>blue</i> gowns. Is it not unseemly that blue +which has hitherto been the colour of so many unenviable +distinctions, should be the adopted emblem of +liberty—<i>English True Blue</i>!</p> +<hr /> +<h3>SONG.</h3> +<h4>By JOANNA BAILLIE.</h4> +<div class="poem"> +<p>The gliding fish that takes his play</p> +<p class="i2"> In shady nook of streamlet cool, </p> +<p>Thinks not how waters pass away,</p> +<p class="i2"> And summer dries the pool.</p> + +<p class="stanza"> +The bird beneath his leafy dome</p> +<p class="i2">Who trills his carol, loud and clear,</p> +<p>Thinks not how soon his verdant home</p> +<p class="i2">The lightning’s breath may sear.</p> + +<p class="stanza"> +Shall I within my bridegroom’s bower</p> +<p class="i2">With braids of budding roses twined,</p> +<p>Look forward to a coming hour</p> +<p class="i2">When he may prove unkind?</p> + +<p class="stanza"> +The bee reigns in his waxen cell,</p> +<p class="i2">The chieftain in his stately hold,</p> +<p>To-morrow’s earthquake,—who can tell?</p> +<p class="i2">May both in ruin fold.</p> +</div> + +<hr /> +<h2>The Gatherer.</h2> + +<p class="centre"> +“A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles.”—<i>Shakspeare</i>. +</p> +<hr /> +<h4>CATS <i>(again.)</i></h4> +<p> +Charles James Fox walking up Bond-street from one of the club-houses +with an illustrious personage, laid him a wager, that he would see +more cats than the prince in his walk, and that he might take which +side of the street he liked. When they got to the top, it was found +that Mr. Fox had seen thirteen cats, and the prince not one. The +royal personage asked for an explanation of this apparent miracle; +Mr. Fox said, “Your royal highness took, of course, the shady +side of the way, as most agreeable; I knew that the sunny side would +be left for me, and cats always prefer the sunshine.” +</p> + +<hr /> + +<h4>VAUXHALL WEATHER.</h4> +<p> +It having happened for several successive summers, that wet weather +took place just as the Vauxhall season commenced, Tom Lowe, Tyers’s +principal vocal performer, accidentally meeting the proprietor, +expressed an anxious desire to know when he meant to open his +gardens. “Why are you so particular, Mr. Lowe?” said +Jonathan. “I have a very good reason, sir, and should like to +know the very day.” “Why, why?” reiterated Tyers, +impatiently. “That I may bespeak a great coat to sing in; for +you know we shall be sure to have rain.”" +</p> + +<hr /> + +<h4>LAME SINGING.</h4> +<p> +A few days since, a musicsellers’s boy was sent to the +publisher’s for a number of copies of the song “I’d be a +Butterfly, arranged for <i>two trebles;</i>” when, on being +desired to repeat his order, he replied, “I’d be a Butterfly, +arranged for <i>two cripples.</i>” +</p> + +<hr /> + +<h4>LAUGHTER.</h4> + +<p> +Democritus, who was always laughing, lived one hundred and nine +years; Heraclitus, who never ceased crying, only sixty. Laughing +then is best; and to laugh at one another is perfectly justifiable, +since we are told that the gods themselves, though they made us as +they pleased, cannot help laughing at us.</p> +<br /> +<hr class="full" /> +<a name ="fn1"></a> +<br /> +<p><b>Notes</b></p> +<blockquote class="footnote"> +<p>1. The panther in these countries is a sacred, or Fetish, + animal; and not only a heavy fine is extorted from those + who kill one, but the Fetish is supposed to revenge his + death by cursing the offender. (<a href="#fn1ref">Return)</a></p> +</blockquote> +<br /> + +<hr class="full" /> +<p><i>Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, London; +Sold by ERNEST FLEISCHER, 626, New Market, Leipsic, and by all +Newsmen and Booksellers.</i></p> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12873 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/12873-h/images/323-1.png b/12873-h/images/323-1.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..92c5c74 --- /dev/null +++ b/12873-h/images/323-1.png diff --git a/12873-h/images/323-2.png b/12873-h/images/323-2.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb7f310 --- /dev/null +++ b/12873-h/images/323-2.png diff --git a/12873-h/images/323-3.png b/12873-h/images/323-3.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d4fce7 --- /dev/null +++ b/12873-h/images/323-3.png |
