The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mr. Joseph Hanson, The Haberdasher, by
Mary Russell Mitford

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: Mr. Joseph Hanson, The Haberdasher

Author: Mary Russell Mitford

Release Date: October 2, 2007 [EBook #22841]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MR. JOSEPH HANSON, THE HABERDASHER ***

Produced by David Widger

MR. JOSEPH HANSON, THE HABERDASHER

By Mary Russell Mitford

These are good days for great heroes; so far at least as regards the
general spread and universal diffusion of celebrity. In the matter
of fame, indeed, that grand bill upon posterity which is to be found
written in the page of history, and the changes of empires, Alexander
may, for aught I know, be nearly on a par with the Duke of Wellington;
but in point of local and temporary tributes to reputation, the great
ancient, king though he were, must have been far behind the great
modern. Even that comparatively recent warrior, the Duke of Marlborough,
made but a slight approach to the popular honours paid to the conqueror
of Napoleon. A few alehouse signs and the ballad of "Marlbrook s'en va't
en guerre," (for we are not talking now of the titles, and pensions, and
palaces, granted to him by the Sovereign and the Parliament,) seem to
have been the chief if not the only popular demonstrations vouchsafed by
friends and enemies to the hero of Blenheim.

The name of Wellington, on the other hand, is necessarily in every man's
mouth at every hour of every day. He is the universal godfather of every
novelty, whether in art, in literature, or in science. Streets, bridges,
places, crescents, terraces, and railways, on the land; steam-boats on
the water; balloons in the air, are all distinguished by that honoured
appellation. We live in Wellington squares, we travel in Wellington
coaches, we dine in Wellington hotels, we are educated in Wellington
establishments, and are clothed from top to toe (that is to say the male
half of the nation) in Wellington boots, Wellington cloaks, Wellington
hats, each of which shall have been severally purchased at a warehouse
bearing the same distinguished title.

Since every market town and almost