" in the daytime are never seen now. Foot gear took the shape of
"Hessians'" "halves," "painted tops," "Wellington's" or "Bluchers." There
are many other trifles which will evidence these changes. We are told of
the "common eighteen-penny French skull cap." Note _common_--it is
exhibited on Mr. Smangle's head--a rather smartish thing with a tassel.
Nightcaps, too, they are surely gone by now: though a few old people may
wear them, but then boys and young men all did. It also had a tassel.
There is the "Frog Hornpipe," whatever dance that was: the "pousette;"
while "cold srub," which is not in much vogue now, was the drink of the
Bath Footmen. "Botany Bay ease, and New South Wales gentility," refer to
the old convict days. This indeed is the most startling transformation
of all. For instead of Botany Bay, and its miserable associations, we
have the grand flourishing Australia, with its noble cities, Parliaments
and the rest. Gone out too, we suppose, the "Oxford-mixture trousers;"
"Oxford grey" it was then called.

Then for Sam's "Profeel machine." Mr. Andrew Lang in his notes wonders
what this "Profeel machine" was, and fancies it was the silhouette
process. This had nothing to do with the "Profeel machine"--which is
described in "Little Pedlington," a delightful specimen of Pickwickian
humour, and which ought to be better known than it is. "There now," said
Daubson, the painter of "the all but breathing Grenadier," (alas!
rejected by the Academy). "Then get up and sit down, if you please,
mister." "He pointed to a narrow high-backed chair, placed on a
platform; by the side of the chair was a machine of curious construction,
from which protruded a long wire. 'Heady stiddy, mister.' He then
slowly drew the wire over my head and down my nose and chin." Such was
the "Profeel machine."

There are many antiquated allusions in Pickwick--which have often
exercised the ingenuity of the curious. Sam's "Fanteegs," has been given
up in despair--as though there were no solution--yet, Professor Skeat, an
eminent authority, has long since furnished it. {34}

"Through the button hole"--a slang term for the mouth, has been well
"threshed out"--as it is called. Of "My Prooshian Blue," as his son
affectedly styled his parent, Mr. Lang correctly suggests the solution,
that the term came of George IV's intention of changing the uniform of
the Army to Blue. But this has been said before.

Boz in his Pickwickian names