L BE CUT
IN HALF.

A man may walk a long while in the city of London without having any
definite object, and yet be amused, for there are few occupations more
pleasant, more instructive, or more contemplative, than looking into the
shop windows; you pay a shilling to see an exhibition, whereas in this
instance you have the advantage of seeing many without paying a
farthing, provided that you look after your pocket-handkerchief. Thus
was our hero amused: at one shop he discovered that very gay shawls were
to be purchased for one pound, Bandanas at 3 shillings 9 pence, and
soiled Irish linen remarkably cheap; at another he saw a row of watches,
from humble silver at 2 pounds 10 shillings, to gold and enamelled at
twelve or fourteen guineas, all warranted to go well; at another he
discovered that furs were at half price, because nobody wore them in the
summer. He proceeded further, and came to where there was a quantity of
oil-paintings exposed for sale, pointing out to the passer-by that
pictures of that description were those which he ought not to buy. A
print-shop gave him an idea of the merits of composition and design
shown by the various masters; and as he could not transport himself to
the Vatican, it was quite as well to see what the Vatican contained; his
thoughts were on Rome and her former glories. A tobacconist's
transported him to the State of Virginia, where many had been
transported in former days. A grocer's wafted him still farther to the
West Indies and the negroes, and from these, as if by magic, to the
Spice Islands and their aromatic groves. But an old curiosity-shop,
with bronzes, china, marqueterie, point-lace, and armour, embraced at
once a few centuries; and he thought of the feudal times, the fifteenth
century, the belle of former days, the amber-headed cane and snuff box
of the beaux who sought her smiles, all gone, all dust; the workmanship
of the time, even portions of their dresses, still existing--everything
less perishable than man.

Our hero proceeded on, his thoughts wandering as he wandered himself,
when his attention was attracted by one of those placards, the breed of
which appears to have been very much improved of late, as they get
larger and larger every day; what they will end in there is no saying,
unless it be in placards without end. This placard intimated that there
was a masquerade at Vauxhall on that evening, besides tire-works,
water-works, and anything but good work