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for a half…holiday； and a quiet corner； and one of those books again！
Those books； and perhaps those eyes with which we read them； and； it
may be； the brains behind the eyes！ It may be the tart was good； but how
fresh the appetite was！ If the gods would give me the desire of my heart；
I should be able to write a story which boys would relish for the next few
dozen of centuries。 The boy…critic loves the story： grown up； he loves
the author who wrote the story。 Hence the kindly tie is established
between writer and reader； and lasts pretty nearly for life。 I meet people
now who don't care of Walter Scott； or the 〃Arabian Nights〃； I am sorry
for them； unless they in their time have found their romancer their
charming Scheherazade。 By the way； Walter； when you are writing； tell me
who is the favourite novelist in the fourth form now？ Have you got
anything so good and kindly as dear Miss Edgeworth's Frank？ It used to
belong to a fellow's sisters generally； but though he pretended to despise
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it； and said； 〃Oh； stuff for girls！〃 he read it； and I think there were one or
two passages which would try my eyes now； were I to meet with the little
book。
As for Thomas and Jeremiah （it is only my witty way of calling Tom
and Jerry）； I went to the British Museum the other day on purpose to get it；
but somehow； if you will press the question so closely； on reperusal； Tom
and Jerry is not so brilliant as I had supposed it to be。 The pictures are
just as fine as ever； and I shook hands with broad…backed Jerry Hawthorn
and Corinthian Tom with delight； after many year's absence。 But the
style of the writing； I own； was not pleasing to me； I even thought it a
little vulgar well！ well！ other writers have been considered vulgar and
as a description of the sports and amusements of London in the ancient
times； more curious than amusing。
But the pictures！ oh！ the pictures are noble still！ First； there is
Jerry arriving from the country； in a green coat and leather gaiters； and
being measured for a fashionable suit at Corinthian House； by Corinthian
Tom's tailor。 Then away for the career of pleasure and fashion。 The
park！ delicious excitement！ The theatre！ the saloon！！ the green…room！！！
Rapturous bliss the opera itself！ and then perhaps to Temple Bar； to
knock down a Charley there！ There are Jerry and Tom； with their tights
and little cocked hats； coming from the opera very much as gentlemen
in waiting on royalty are habited now。 There they are at Almack's itself；
amidst a crowd of high…bred personages； with the Duke of Clarence
himself looking at them dancing。 Now； strange change； they are in Tom
Cribb's parlour； where they don't seem to be a whit less at home than in
fashion's gilded halls； and now they are at Newgate； seeing the irons
knocked off the malefactors' legs previous to execution。 What hardened
ferocity in the countenance of the desperado in yellow breeches！ What
compunction in the face of the gentleman in black （who； I suppose； has
been forging）； and who clasps his hands； and listens to the chaplain！
Now we haste away to merrier scenes： to Tattersall's （ah gracious powers！
what a funny fellow that actor was who performed Dicky Green in that
scene in the play！）； and now we are at a private party； at which
Corinthian Tom is waltzing （and very gracefully too； as you must confess）
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with Corinthian Kate； whilst Bob Logic； the Oxonian； is playing on the
piano！
〃After；〃 the text says； 〃the Oxonian had played several pieces of lively
music； he requested as a favour that Kate and his friend Tom would
perform a waltz。 Kate without any hesitation immediately stood up。
Tom offered his hand to his fascinating partner； and the dance took place。
The plate conveys a correct representation of the ‘gay scene' at that precise
moment。 The anxiety of the Oxonian to witness the attitudes of the
elegant pair had nearly put a stop to their movements。 On turning round
from the pianoforte and presenting his comical mug； Kate could scarcely
suppress a laugh。〃
And no wonder； just look at it now （as I have copied it to the best of
my humble ability）； and compare Master Logic's countenance and attitude
with the splendid elegance of Tom！ Now every London man is weary
and blase。 There is an enjoyment of life in these young bucks of 1823
which contrasts strangely with our feelings of 1860。 Here； for instance；
is a specimen of their talk and walk； 〃‘If；' says LOGIC ‘if enjoyment is
your motto； you may make the most of an evening at Vauxhall； more than
at any other place in the metropolis。 It is all free and easy。 Stay as long
as you like； and depart when you think proper。' ‘Your description is so
flattering；' replied JERRY； ‘that I do not care how soon the time arrives for
us to start。' LOGIC proposed a ‘bit of a stroll' in order to get rid of an
hour or two； which was immediately accepted by Tom and Jerry。 A turn
or two in Bond Street； a stroll through Piccadilly； a look in at
TATTERSALL's； a ramble through Pall Mall； and a strut on the Corinthian
path； fully occupied the time of our heroes until the hour for dinner arrived；
when a few glasses of TOM's rich wines soon put them on the qui vive。
VAUXHALL was then the object in view； and the TRIO started； bent upon
enjoying the pleasures which this place so amply affords。〃
How nobly those inverted commas； those italics； those capitals； bring
out the writer's wit and relieve the eye！ They are as good as jokes；
though you mayn't quite preceive the point。 Mark the varieties of lounge
in which the young men indulge now a stroll； then a look in； then a
ramble； and presently a strut。 When George； Prince of Wales； was twenty； I
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have read in an old Magazine； 〃the Prince's lounge〃 was a peculiar manner
of walking which the young bucks imitated。 At Windsor George III。 had
a cat's path a sly early walk which the good old king took in the grey
morning before his household was astir。 What was the Corinthian path
here recorded？ Does any antiquary know？ And what were the rich
wines which our friends took； and which enable them to enjoy Vauxhall？
Vauxhall is gone； but the wines which could occasion such a delightful
perversion of the intellect as to enable it to enjoy ample pleasures there；
what were they？
So the game of life proceeds； until Jerry Hawthorn； the rustic； is fairly
knocked up by all this excitement and is forced to go home； and the last
picture represents him getting into the coach at the 〃White Horse Cellar；〃
he being one of six inside； whilst his friends shake him by the hand；
whilst the sailor mounts on the roof； whilst the Jews hang round with
oranges； knives； and sealing…wax： whilst the guard is closing the door。
Where are they now； those sealing…wax vendors？ where are the guards？
where are the jolly teams？ where are the coaches？ and where the youth
that climbed inside and out of them； that heard the merry horn which
sounds no more； that saw the sun rise over Stonehenge； that rubbed
away the bitter tears at night after parting as the coach sped on the journey
to school and London； that looked out with beating heart as the
milestones flew by； for the welcome corner where began home and
holidays。
I