of professional
people like Perker.

At this moment there is to be seen in the corner of many an antique
Hall--Sedan chair laid up in ordinary--of black leather, bound with brass-
nails. We can well recall in our boyish days, mamma in full dress and
her hair in "bands," going out to dine in her chair. On arriving at the
house the chair was taken up the steps and carried bodily into the
Hall--the chair men drew out their poles, lifted the head, opened the
door and the dame stepped out. The operation was not without its state.

Gone too are the "carpet bags" which Mr. Pickwick carried and also Mr.
Slurk--(why he brought it with him into the kitchen is not very clear).
{30}

Skates were then spelt "Skaits." The "Heavy smack," transported
luggage--to the Provinces by river or canal. The "Twopenny Postman" is
often alluded to. "Campstools," carried about for use, excited no
astonishment. Gentlemen don't go to Reviews now, as Mr. Wardle did,
arrayed in "a blue coat and bright buttons, corduroy (Boz also spells it
_corderoy_) breeches and top boots," nor ladies "in scarfs and feathers."
It is curious, by the way, that Wardle talks something after the
fashionable manner of our day, dropping his g's--as who should say
"huntin'," or "rippin'"--"I spent some evnins" he says "at your club."
"My gals," he says also. "Capons" are not much eaten now. "Drinking
wine" or "having a glass of wine" has gone out, and with it Mr. Tupman's
gallant manner of challenge to a fair one, _i.e._ "touching the
enchanting Rachel's wrist with one hand and gently elevating his bottle
with the other." "Pope Joan" is little played now, if at all; "Fish"
too; how rarely one sees those mother-of-pearl fish! The "Cloth is not
_drawn_" and the table exposed to view, to be covered with dessert,
bottles, glasses, etc. The shining mahogany was always a brave show, and
we fear this comes of using cheap made up tables of common wood. Still
we wot of some homes, old houses in the country, where the practice is
kept up. It is evident that Mr. Wardle's dinner was at about 3 or 4
o'clock, for none was offered to the party that arrived about 6. This we
may presume was the mode in old fashioned country houses. Supper came at
eleven.

A chaise and four could go at the pace of fifteen miles an hour.

A "1000 horse-power" was Jingle's idea of extravagant speed by steam
agency. Now we have got to 4, 5, and 10 thousand horsepower. Gentlemen's
"frills