Had just the free and flowing fall
Of some old statue's; but, too warm,
Too glowing were that eye and cheek,
To let thy shape of loveliness
Like marble seem, though rarest Greek,
For all that chaste and graceful dress!
***_At_ 16_s._ 6_d._, _A Superior Article and Striking Novelty.
Now Selling Off at a Tremendous Sacrifice_. JACKSON AND CO., &c.
The foregoing is merely an attempt to show what might be done in this
line, or sort of lines. It is no easy job, as a judicious ancient
observes, to do common themes to a T.
Perhaps it is strange, however, that a Manchester tradesman should have
to advertise for a poet. Is there no young man in his establishment that
turns down his collars and grows his hair in ringlets, and has joined
the moustache-movement, that would answer his purpose? In most large
businesses there are such young men, who let off their poetical steam in
effusions to the moon, &c., and merely waste it. Many of these poor
young fellows are snubbed and ridiculed, and thus have their
self-regard--which is always sensitive--irritated and mortified, till
they are driven to all manner of reckless and evil courses; whereas, by
the useful direction of their talent, rendering it subservient to the
purposes of the shop, they would be enabled to fulfil the aspirations
that are in them with credit to themselves and with advantage to their
employers: provided they would pay that attention to their grammatical
studies, which is necessary to the composition of decent verses, even on
the subject of a merino or a ducape.
* * * * *
THE REAL AND THE IDEAL.--There is as much difference between the real
and the ideal, as there is between a castle in Ayrshire and a castle in
the Air.
* * * * *
THE EXPENSE OF MAKING A BARON.
Those who accept dignities are usually expected to pay for them; but,
perhaps, if a man has "greatness thrust upon him" in the form of a
title, it would be rather hard to make him pay L420 for an "honour" of
which he was not solicitous. Before a man can be "dubbed" a knight he
must "dub up" some L200; but it seems to cost between L400 and L500 to
make a baron. Last year LORD FITZROY SOMERSET was changed into LORD
RAGLAN--a conversion which, though it might have been managed as easily
and as cheaply as the pantomime trick of SO-AND-SO _afterwards_
HARLEQUIN, or PANTALOON, or CLOWN, has, it seems, added upwards o
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