house in the same town, immediately
took up the discarded sign, and speculatively hoisted 'The Grey Ass.'
What was the consequence? Old codgers, married men with scolding Avives
at home, straggling young fellows, and all the 'fraternity of free
topers,' resorted to the house, filled the tap-room, crammed the
parlour, and assailed the bar: the Grey Ass had the run, and was all
the vogue; whilst the venerable Prince of Hesse swung mournfully
and deserted at the other place, and enticed no visitors, foreign
or domestic; for it should be observed, that 'The Grey Ass' had such
reputation all over Germany, that every foreign nobleman or gentleman
who came to Cassel, was sure to order his coach or chaise to be driven
to the inn of that name; and this order of course was still continued,
for how was it to be known by travellers coming from Vienna, Hungary, or
Bohemia, that a certain innkeeper at Cassel had altered his sign? To the
inn, therefore, which was denominated 'The Grey Ass,' they still went.

"What could the poor deserted innkeeper do in such a case? To deface the
fine portrait of his master, would have been high treason; yet losing
his customers on the other hand was downright starvation. In this cruel
dilemma he dreamt of a new scheme, and had it executed.

~~401~~~ The portrait of the Prince was preserved, but he had written
under it, in large characters,

'This is the Original Grey Ass.'

"Excellent!" exclaimed the Hon. Tom Dashall, "though I must confess
you have travelled a long way for your illustration, which is quite
sufficient to shew the utility of signs. But I would ask you if you can
explain or point out the derivation of many we have in London--such for
instance as 'The Pig and Tinder-Box'--'The Prad and Blower'--'The Bird
and Baby'--'The Tyrant and Trembler'--'The Fist and Fragrance'"

"Hold," cried Sparkle, "I confess I am not quite so learned."

"They are novel at least," observed Tallyho, "for I do not recollect to
have met with any of them."

"Ha, ha, ha!" exclaimed Tom, "then you are not fly, and I must add
something to your stock of knowledge after all. The Pig and Tinder-Box
is no other than the Elephant and Castle--The Prad and Blower, the Horse
and Trumpeter--The Bird and Baby, the Eagle and Child--The Tyrant
and Trembler, the Lion and Lamb--The Fist and Fragrance, the Hand and
Flowers. Then we have the Book, Bauble, and holler, which is intended to
signify the Bible, Crown, and Cushion."