mselves the air and pretensions of
noblemen; and ladies do not mind to what high rank they may be promoted,
knowing well enough they must sink down again to the plain Mrs., the
moment they return to Baker Street. But it is otherwise with the
gentlemen, who, it is notorious, are more easily led away by the
vanities of this world than the ladies; thus, you will meet with swarms
of _Rentiers_ in the shape of young gentlemen who have scarcely got
sufficient to pay the expenses of their journey home; with innumerable
_Hommes de Lettres_, who have never had anything to do with them, beyond
writing a letter occasionally, signed "A Father of a Family," or "A
Constant Reader," to the Editor of the _Times_; with railways-full of
_artistes_, who, if the truth were known, are only hair-cutters, or else
the drawing-masters of some suburban girl's-school; and with no small
quantity of _Banquiers_, whom, if you could see them only in their
counting-houses at home, you would find, probably, behind the
trellis-work of a suspicious Betting-Shop, or else secreted in a dark
back-parlour, with some six other _Banquiers_, at the head of a "Mutual
Loan and Investment Office"--for the benefit, of course, of the "Poor
Man" and not at all of themselves.

Beware, especially at the sea-side, and on your travels, of all AUTUMNAL
PROMOTIONS.

* * * * *

THE ENGLISH HIPPOPOTAMUS, AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, to the FRENCH
DITTO, AT THE "JARDIN DES PLANTES."

"MON CHER HIP.,--I have been reading the account of your glorious
reception at Paris. Don't you allow your simple head to be turned by the
homage you have been receiving. Look at me, and profit by the ridiculous
lesson.

"But a short time ago I was as great a favourite as you now are. I was
run after worse than a Nepaulese Ambassador--though what little lustre
there was about me was all my own--not a single diamond shone in my
ears! and my nose (at present so snubbed) was unconscious of the
smallest precious stone! No valuable Cachemire was coiled round my head,
that, in a moment of admiration, I could unroll and lay at the feet of
my fair worshippers. What little merit I possessed consisted in my
native ugliness; and though I flatter myself I am as ugly now as I was
then, still no one runs after me now.

"As it was with me so it will be with you. My word for it, your nose
will be similarly put out of joint by M. DUPIN, or some other
monstrosity. I was the rag