New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-05-26
Charles Lamb.

II wassitting one morning beside our editor busily
correcting proofs, when q VISITOR wa
whose name grlmbed by q low voice,
like Tom Pipes, calling from, the hold through the
hatehwav 1dEd not 1asonnd distinctly on my tympa-
MN. However the door opened, and IN came q
figure remark at glance, with fine
head on small spare body supported py almost
i,nmateral legs He was clothed in sables Of by
rone fashion, but there was something wanting Or
Something present, about him that certified he was
neither divine, nor physician, nor schoolmaster
from certain neatness and sobretY in his dress,
coupled with his sedate bearing, he might have been
taken, but that such costume would be anomalous,
for a Quaker in black. He looked still more like
(whathe really was b a literary modern antique, a
new old author, q living anachronism contemp orary
once with Burton the elder and Colman the younger
Meanwhile, he advanced with rather peculiar gait,
his walk was plantigrade, and with cheerful How
dye, and one Of the bandest, sweetest smiles that
ever frightened q manly countenance, held out two
fingers to the editor. The two gentlemen in black
soon fell into discourse and while they conferred the
Layater principle within set to work upon the in
terestng specimen thus presented Its speculatons
1t was striking Intellectual face, full Of Rry lines
physogno quips and cranks, that gave it great
character. There was much earnestness about the
brows, and deal of speculation in the eyes, which
were brown and bright, and s quick in turning; the
nose, decided one, though Of no established order
and there was a handsome slnartness about the
mouth. Altogether it was no common face--none of
those aulotnGttefn ones, which nature turns out by
thousands at her potteries-but more like chance
specimen OF the Chinese Were one to the setunque
antique, quaint. No one who had once seen it could
pretend not to know again. It no face to lend
its countenance to any confusion OF persons in a
Comedy of Errors You might have sworn to it
Epiecemeala separate affidavit for every feature In
Short his face was as original his figure ibis figure
as his character; his character as his writings his
writings the most original Of the age. After the
literary business had been settled the editor invited
his contributor to dinner. adding, We shall have q
hare''-- 2l5#
i sAnd-and-and-a many friends ~
The hesitation in the speech and the readiness of
the alusion were alike characteristic of the indiyid
1 ual, whom his farniars will perchance have recog-
nized already as the delightful essayist the capital
critic the pleasant wit and humorist, the delicate
minded and large-hearted Charles Lamb! He was
shy, like myself with strangers so that despite my
yearnings, first meeting scarcely amounted to an
Il Introduction. We were both at dinner, among the
hare's many friends; but our acquaintance got no
further III spite Of desperate attempt on my part to
attract his notice. His complaint of the Decay of
Beggars presented another chance wrote coarse
paper, and in ragged English letter Of thanks to
him as if from one of his mendcan clients, but it
produced no effect. had given up all hope, when,
one night, sitting sick and sad in my bedroom,
i racked with the rheumatism, the door suddenly
opened, the well known quaint figure in black walked
in without any formality, and with cheerful Well
4 boy how are you and the bland, sweet smile, ex
n tended the two fingers They were eagerly clutehed
of course and from that hour were firm friends.
Hood.