. There only do people appear to trouble themselves about it.

"Chops and tomato sauce." This too is superannuated also. A more
correct taste is now chops _au naturel_, and relying on their own natural
juices; but we have cutlets, with tomatos.

Again, are little boys no longer clad in "a tight suit of corduroy,
spangled with brass buttons of very considerable size:" indeed corduroy
is seldom seen save on the figures of some _chic_ ladies. And how
fortunate to live in days when a smart valet could be secured for twelve
pounds a year, and two suits; {24} and not less.

Surprising too was the valet's accustomed dress. "A grey coat, a black
hat, with a cockade on it, a pink striped waistcoat, light breeches and
gaiters." What too were "bright _basket_ buttons" on a brown coat? Fancy
Balls too, like Mrs. Leo Hunter's, were given in the daytime, and caused
no astonishment. Nor have we lodging-houses with beds on the "twopenny
rope" principle. There are no "dry arches" of Waterloo Bridge: though
here I suspect Boz was confounding them with those of the Adelphi.

Gone too are the simple games of childhood. Marbles for instance. We
recall Serjeant Buzfuz's pathetic allusion to little Bardell's "Alley
Tors and Commoneys; the long familiar cry of 'knuckle down' is
neglected." Who sees a boy playing marbles now in the street or
elsewhere? Mr. Lang in his edition gives us no lore about this point.
"Alley Tors" was short for "Alabaster," the material of which the _best_
marbles were made.

"Tor" however, is usually spelt "Taw." "Commoneys" were the inferior or
commoner kind. "Knuckle down," according to our recollections, was the
laying the knuckle on the ground for a shot. "Odd and even" was also
spoken of by the Serjeant. Another game alluded to, is mysteriously
called "Tip-cheese"--of which the latest editor speculates "probably Tip-
cat was meant: the game at which Bunyan was distinguishing himself when
he had a call." The "cat" was a plain piece of wood, sharpened at both
ends. I suppose made to jump, like a cat. But _unde_ "cheese," unless
it was a piece of rind that was struck.

"Flying the garter" is another of the Pickwickian boy games. Talking
with a very old gentleman, lately, I thought of asking him concerning
"Flying the garter:" he at once enlightened me. It was a familiar thing
he remembered well "when a boy." It was a sort of "Leap Frog,"
exercise--only with a greater and longer spring: he