We all know that Sir Humphry Davy was the creator of electro-chemistry—that he was the inventer of the safety-lamp; but few are aware that he was also a poet, and that the chemist wrote the prologue to the Honey Moon. We knew that he was skilful in angling, for he was the author of Salmonia; but we did not know that he was the original Green Man, and went a-fishing in a green dress, with a broad-brimmed green hat stuck with artificial flies, and being, in short, all green, down to his boots of Indian rubber. He was also an epicure of the drollest kind, for he was curious in tasting every thing that had never been tasted before, and interfered himself in the composition of dishes intended for his table, thereby encountering the wrath of strange cooks, and running serious risks in inn-kitchens. We have long heard his name coupled with aristocratic parties, but we see how he contrived to reconcile the calls of the laboratory and the invitations of great people. He worked to the last moment; and, when he was too late for dinner, covered his dirty shirt with a clean one, there being no time for changing it. He has been known to wear five strata of shirts at a time, and to have greatly surprised his friends by his rapid transitions from a state of corpulency to that of considerable leanness. This was when, at some moment of leisure, he contrived to find time to despoil himself of his exuvia. All Sir Humphry's experience in high circles (and in the plenitude of his fame he commanded any rank) never gave him ease of manner: he lacked the original familiarity with polished society, and his best efforts at pleasing were marred with a disagreeable bearing, which might sometimes be called pertness, sometimes superciliousness.—As in his dress he oscillated between a dandy and a sloven, so in his manners he vibrated from familiarity to hauteur. In all personal matters he missed the golden mean.—Spectator Newspaper.

YOUTHFUL PHILOSOPHY

The young Princess Esterhazy was a great favourite of George IV. At a ball given in honour of his Majesty's birth-day, the young ladies were each expected to kneel, and present him with a nosegay; but the princess declared, that as she was of royal blood, she would prefer death to such degradation. The King received her graciously, notwithstanding her obstinacy; but her governess sent the child to bed immediately after dinner. "Bon pour la digestion," exclaimed the princess; which so enraged the governess, that she took her out of bed and whipped her soundly. "Bon pour la circulation," said the princess; and the next day the governess resigned.—Atlas.

PLAIN SPEAKING

At St. Augustine's Sessions, in an appeal case, a witness was asked by Sir Edward Knatchbull, to relate what took place between him and his master, which he did as follows:—"I told him he was a liar." Chairman—"Very improper language." Witness—"Can't help that, I am come here to speak the truth, and you have got it."—Kent and Essex Mer.

THE DEAD HAND

It is an opinion very prevalent among the "finest pisantry in the world," that a lighted candle placed in a dead man's hand will not be seen by any but those by whom it is used; and also that, if a candle in a dead hand be introduced into a house, it will prevent those who may be asleep from awaking! Under the influence of this superstition, a party, a few nights since armed with a dead man's hand and lighted candle, attacked the house of Mrs. Leonard (the mother of the priest), in the town of Oldcastle, county of Meath; but, unfortunately for the credit of the creed, the inmates were alarmed, and the robbers fled, leaving the hand behind them.

EPIGRAMS

"Upon his arrival at Perthshire, his Majesty is to be received by a band of two hundred men, entirely of the Mac clan, arrayed in the ancient national costume."—Scotsman.

In Scotia our king's to be blessed with a treat, A balleting one if the Scotch have their nacks, For the papers put forth he's at Perthshire to meet, Dressed in tartan and bonnet, a band of all "Macs." (Almacks.) Which wert thou, cruel Bishop Bonner, A savage wit, or senseless noddy, When to extinguish Ridley's faith, Thou mad'st a bonfire of his body? Disdain'd by the Helen he fondly had wooed, A love-stricken swain in a region campestris, Thus "clerkly" gave vent to his sorrowful mood, Ah! vota si mea valíssent cum Vestris! 3 Ah me! what foggy thoughts environ The man that reads Gait's "Life of Byron." —Hudibras parodied. "What pens doth Galt in general use?" To Farthing thus said Simon Shark; "Mostly the Nocto-Polygraph, Or pen that writes Sir—in the dark."

PUN-ICUS.

Страница 11 из 12

Назад 1…10 11 12 Далее

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 472, January 22, 1831

AI-разбор доступен после входа

О книге

Читать онлайн

THE GATHERER

SIR HUMPHRY DAVY

YOUTHFUL PHILOSOPHY

PLAIN SPEAKING

THE DEAD HAND

EPIGRAMS

Вам также может понравиться

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 279, October 20, 1827

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 262, July 7, 1827

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 264, July 14, 1827

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 276, October 6, 1827

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 14, No. 385, August 15, 1829

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 14, No. 399, Supplementary Number

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 273, September 15, 1827

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 20, No. 582, December 22, 1832

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 268, August 11, 1827

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 12, No. 331, September 13, 1828

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 12, No. 333, September 27, 1828

The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 13. Index to Volume 13