The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-06-26 00:00:00

pupils and applying for silk). As a man of fashion, Surrebutter spends an hour in the Park, and an hour in " firing pasteboard" in the purlieus of Belgravia. But, "just as the evening shades prevail," he usually returns home to Pall-mall. In the lower library of the " Alternative," about six o'clock, all the quid MOWS of the town are assembled. The city men, on their way home, drop in to read the evening papers, and hear the comments upon them. Members of parliament are come to snatch a hasty dinner between the morning sitting and the serious work of the evening. The Secretary to the Treasury (if the Alternative be political, and if the Alternative party be in power) moves about telling whether and, when a division is expected ; or if the Alternative party is in opposition, then the opposition whipper-in is there and busy. If the Alternative be not political, then the talk is of hebdomadal boards and Tractarians, threatened reforms and vacant professorships ; and perhaps an energetic but quiet canvass is going on for Demosthenes Jones and Pericles Hogg, candidates for the public oratorship. In this room, and at this moment, the last piece of news is known, the last piece of scandal is repeated, the last rumour passes from mouth to mouth ; candidates for election are talked over, and it is quietly settled that Stiggins shall be black-balled. Naturally, Surrebutter has his part in this chit-chat ; takes care to be made known to the Treasury or the opposition whipper-in, as the case may be ; compliments the judge upon his hale appearance, or the bishop upon his published charge, and then betakes himself to the dressing-rooms and bath-rooms. If he is going to dine out, the urchin, who, at the wage of ss. a week, passes his days in polishing his master's boots and flying paper-kites out of the win dows of the Bite in Hare-court, has brought the evening paraphernalia, and Surrebutter makes a lei surely toilet and disappears from the door of the club in a cab. But Surrebutter only allows himself two dinner-parties a week—he says this is a sufficient sacrifice of time to society, for all essential purposes. We will take one of the days when he stays at home. He has ordered a quiet, frugal dinner, with old Nosebag, at half-past seven. Not that he loves Nose bag, or that Nosebag greatly loves Surrebutter ; but their dinner tastes are pretty much alike ; they stand upon no ceremony with each other, and there is this g r eat aclypntage in dining together—they can divide the portions. Surrebutter's companion is not intellectual—a tete a tete dinner with a clever man, who talks and expects to be answered, is a fearful bore. Slight criticisms are ejaculated upon the productions of the cordon bleu, and occasionally a word Of information falls from a passing acquaintance as to what is going on in "the house ;" but this is all that does, or that ever should, disturb the process of dining. When the cheese is removed, Surrebutter calls for the bill, and Nosebag fora pint of port and the Standard. Here is the bill : Mr. Surrebutter and Mr. Nosebag. _ _ • No. of. Portions. * Table .. . 1 Consomme aux ceufs poches . 1 Cabillaud a la religieuse 1 Cotelettes au beurre d'anchois 1 Demi poulet aux truffes 1 Beignets de pommes. ....... Vin ordinaire, une bouteille Pint of sherry Price. £0 1 6 1 0 2 0 1 4 3 0 0 6 2 6 2 0 £0 13 10 An easy arithmetical operation (which has, however, been found so gravely to trouble senior wranglers, that the clerk of the desk now performs it) shews that Surrebutter's indebtedness, in respect of this dinner, is six shillings and elevenpence. He puts down seven shillings, receives a postage stamp in change, and adjourns at once to the library. Surrebutter has dined like a civilised creature, who has a fellow feeling for his stomach, and is not laying up a store of gout, dyspepsia, and apoplexy for his old age. There are many British lions in the coffee-room who have dined off a joint and beer, and drunk a pint of port wine afterwards, and whose bill is but four shillings and threepence. One great luxury in a modern club is, that there is no temptation to ostenta tious expense. At an hotel there is an inclination in * This charge includes all the et ceteras, bread, vegetables, beer, cheese (of every description, whether Cheshire, Gruyere, Parmesan, or Cottendham), club beer and table service. It varies from sixpence to a shilling at different clubs. We put it, therefore, at the medium. I some natures to be " a good customer." At a club the best men are generally the most frugal—they are afraid of being thought like that little snob, Calicot, who is always surrounded by fine dishes and expensive wines (even when alone), and is always in loud talk with the butler, and in correspondence with the com mittee about the cook. Calicot is a rich man, with a large, bottle-nose, and people blackball his friends. Settled in a very easy-chair in the library, Surre butter has his café noir (sixpence) and glances over the last new French novel, a new book upon Russia, the latest German system of philosophy, and the day's batch of political pamphlets. Such an occupation necessarily induces a sensation of drowsiness. Shaking this off, he wanders into the smoking-room, where a very general conversation is going on upon the pro minent topic of the day. But as a great parliamen tary orator soon afterwards comes in and insists upon being didactic and dogmatic, the smokers, one by one, desert the temple of mundungus for the billiard room, whither the bore cannot follow them. Here Surrebutter smokes the remainder of his cigar, perhaps takes a ball in a shillinc , and half-crown pool, perhaps plays a game of billiards,' perhaps only looks on. But about eleven o'clock he generally asks whether any one is journeying eastwards, and it usually happens two or three Templars are just then thinking of strolling home'in the moonlight. As they go down stairs, Surrebutter suddenly bethinks him that he has asked two men to dine with him next day, and has invited a club man to join him. For, as a member can only ask one guest, if you invite two, you must get the second a godfather in the club. Surrebutter must order dinner. " Stay five minutes for me, old fellows, while I make out a dinner-bill for to-morrow--or rather come and let us do it in conclave." It is to be noted that no man ever yet refused his counsel in the ordering of a dinner. Ordering a dinner is the eidolon of eating a dinner. " Is it a house-dinner ?" asks Grosbois. " No ! I never dine at house-dinners ; everything is grand and cold. The money is all spent upon the eye. The eye has its own particular pleasures ; a dinner should appeal only to the palate. I hold that nothing but flowers and fruit should ever appear upon a dinner-table—every plat should be divided in the kitchen, and appear through the trap-box only to be handed round." " Ah, I see, a partie earre'e. How much do you intend to stand ?" " Something under a pound a-head will do it hand somely. Waiter bring the large carte. Let me see, " Huitres trois douzaines"—that, of course ; " Bagra tion au petit macaroni," a good soup, and " Bisque d'ecrevisses" another —one portion of the first and two of the other will be plenty. Now for fish. " Filets de sole a la Genevoise" for one, " Saumon a la Hollandaise" for two. Then a " Vol au vent a la Toulouse." We must have some entree. There are only three cooks in Europe who can accomplish a " Tete de veau en tortue," but as our chef happens to be one of the three, it is a public duty to keep him in practice. Some " Supremes de filets de perdreaux aux truffes," a dish of " cotelettes" for simple tastes, and a little " Saucisson de Lyons" to correct the palate will, I think, be enough. The legumes and the salade I must leave to the chef. A " Poulet aux cressons" will be a simple roti, and as to sweets, a " Conde glace a la Neapolitaine," a " Prussienne d'abricots," and a " Charlotte Russe," the first for two and the two last for one will wind up. As to drinks, suppose I put down German Seltzer, one bottle of Claret Cup, two of Champagne, one of Amontillado Sherry, and two of Clos Vougeot. It's as well to order these beforehand, or the Champagne and Claret Cup will not be iced to the exact turn, and the Burgundy will not be leisurely placed in its basket." This " draft of a bill " was not made without some interference from Surrebutter's counsellors ; but Surre butter yielded not a plat, well knowing how easy it is to spoil a dinner. Having completed the valuable document, the amphytrion enclosed it in a private note to the cook, and leaving it with the porter, lights another cigar, and walks quietly Temple -wards with his companions. If any careful mamma has followed Surrebutter in his club expenditure this day, she will have ascer tained that his home disbursement has been some thing under ten shillings. If she be a candid woman, who holds in memory the occasional catastrophes of ; For some weeks Mrs. Grey was in such alej : la v bel - t i she could determine on nothing; but Erni tHe tl yi:l, l mind to exertion. Her beloved father haa e;04 11 ,0 1 t education that she felt assured she was fullYi j el'"bj/j upon her the important task of communicattll; !11,, others. She consulted Mr. 'Thompson on oarild j) fully coincided with her views, and promi s e sui t ' amongst his mercantile friends in town far t of in a gentleman's family. aea ate It might be about tw . o mouths after the that they were all seated at breakfast — f or 3.1r d:A 134 13 joined the circle—when the post was delica re ..o o letters to Mr. Thompson was one from a r ec Ao p ) in which was the following paragraph r", ,11 13 ' s - Off " I have, I think, found a most eligibl e ",, I t irl ° 7l6-7.., , Grey, whom you so highly recommended ill: t he ("r t 0, 50 1; I trust she may have no scruples regardiarAsb, f l d e civilian and his lady returning to Madras , - t oo I to time, to take their three daughters ; th e Y c :loc t ior' taken entirely from their education and iatr , 0 ve . 0 4 1 j the eldest is fifteen, the others a year or !Tienied:fs:f and Mrs Davenport wish to get a highlY'r,,A P as governess. The salary will be one hullu l i l er (co o) end of four years, should she remain so loyfi.,s, 00 00 1 be paid home again. I will answer for it v eil 01 the situation. Mr. and Mrs. Davenport !; Dee l e / 0 . ) people, and speak highly of Madras, ba„ vll 'llis 01P,II more than twelve years; he came home I 0,1", by the 00 0 three years ago. They leave this next rnenv: i . i d theltell which sails, I think, about the 10th. Sle joie' 0 1 agree to this, it will be necessary thap ~f 9 to town and make arrangements, Ste into Emily looked at her mother, who burs. e 4, , ARD. a tha t if ' b...N her own household, she will also adrg, - ba - N Lord of Lansdowne House, or of '''' even the recipient' of her own house''' . atte r of kto4 mi , could not be better provided in the comforts, or less bored by attendant ice ncoll sii I know that Surrebutter is a horridp , c e- La ° and that such are his five hundred - 1 ) Y the " Alternative ;" but is it not horn e el paths of bachelorhood should be r ode s° 4 t y taxless ? Ladies, should not these clubs Oreju by a salutary and severe enactment ?- -- ..N et 14 11 Review. , 1 0: v„i4 l A ROMANTIC At , (BY MRS. CLE3IOIO4 TF IN THREE CHAPTERS --- CD - 1 - at 0 5 ,, 1 0 4 ON Mrs. Harling's visit to the Greys, su e ; v oo " t o question : " My dear Emily," said she, son since he has left this place?—for lam beg' e be tk uneasy about him, as we had a few words beie j :i d 00v? I suppose, keeps him from writing, and I sh e , joioS o l, •, 11 know where to direct to him, and what held w; 1 9 !alb,' was said so carelessly, that no inference ee`T he the words as to the state of her feelings, or 1- ,,sive r kay t l r resolutions. Emily scarcely knew what to fh j had always been taught to be ingenuous, so Ig l oo she replied, " I have heard once, but only 0 0 ,e i e s . 0 0 ( a o ? ling, during his long absence. I know net kne:if 6A.' kind to me if I were to show you the letter ;,r ls s voi li+t; has read it, for I placed it in her hands, and 1 , 14 ,"`0, 1 ,,41 knew of the—that is our—but my dear ranstoA'frAil the letter." It was accordingly brought; h' sv. av li of about a fortnight after his leaving Devonshill,r,tte " My dearest Emily will not think I have Vieb Al t being thus long in writing ; my mind has hee ll fi e fAi e but noW that my plans are settled, I feel a l e- c ong' f ilif. Live happiness, which, however, will never b le; / clasp my adored Emily to my breast as MY svl , ye 1 ° A) cease to think of you—never will I cease to !eio..rj 4i . 1 / 4 rj Emily, I beg of you never for a moment to th are changed, should it even be months- 101 1g;,1 .4 0/O Y' you hear from me again ; nor must you tn,050 60 0 1 , you are not informed where I am. I firmly ;64! „ truth ; do you trust in mine. Be kind to O A Pr e sl l know loves me,. though she has shown it r atlV Al ,tif 4 ! in wishing to force my inclinations, and in h e i l forgt. , earnest entreaties. Farewell, dearest, belovelh onbc y will come when I trust we shall be happy ill Voce', 0: . ! your devotedly attached, " And can you form no idea," said Mrs P" h e re' conversation you may have had previous l 3 sW- q and what he intends to do ?" A 0,1 1, 1 4 1 "None, madam, whatever." - n- Mrs. Harling soon after quitted the 1 015 ,; two left Devonshire for London. On her found that Henry had never called at 4/ ga T in w a o n 3 y ,e i a n r te s I p li a g s e s n ed ce a u t f va h y im in w l h .ai at n ev c e o r n . ore s, . tv ,, eoo - 0 04 I, k l deeply deplored the loss of her son, anu that, could she bring him back again, she 1/ ; - e :ere oo os his marriage with Emily. These two year s j to that poor girl.ith A little more than a year after Harlingl eft g" Grey died suddenly of apoplexy. This was 4 Mrs. Grey and her daughter : added t° , I ; ,' -e 971 'I)P( sorrow for his loss, was the poverty in vv",.., - , l li del t fat" - The widow had a small pension, but very '; 4 t maintenance. Mr. Thompson and Laura SO ttAt them, and begged them to remove to the Os . k : till their future plans were fixed. „icIPl,Alf .11 12 SUPPLEMENT TO THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD .6