The weekly union record., 1865-02-25
The Gentleman with the Camellias.

to London had the carriage to myself as
! far as Kingston; here little man got in who
at once attracted my attention by the peculiar
ity of his dress, appearance and manner. tie
was in evening dress, everything about him,
from the silk-faced dress coat 10 the patent
leather boots, being bran new. A fact OF
which be was far from being unconscious
each Of his garments. in lis turn, attracted his
notice and approving smile.
The only thing about him that violated
evening etiqaette was his necktie, blue one,
negligeutly arranged Ia Byron auder rolling
collar.
From this augured that he was a poet. for
turn down collars were by 20 means so common
then as now; the fashion prescribing terrible
gis, which. in short neckcd men, endangered
the safety OF their whiSkers and ears. My
surmise was confirmed by his long hair, the
natural tendency to curl being combatted by
the cupious exhibition of grease, and probably
also by asSiduous brushing.
His face, however, was somewhat against
my theory; instead of being thin and pale
with eyes 'iu fine frenzy rolling" it was round,
dumping like, and rosy his liile eyes deeply
set in tunnels OF lat, which, as be chucked from
time to time, were half cloS-d by his rising
cheeks, and presented to view mere slit :; his
mouth expansive and his teeth very good, for
tunately. as he showed them all. not even con-
ceahng the wisdom teeth, which were not quite
come down.
He was well made, what there was of him
be was not much above five feet high, rather
disposed TO embonpoint.
la his button hole he wore magnificent
white cameilia, which, regret to say, saw,
admired, coveted, aud determined to possess,
by fair means, If possible il not, by foul.
This flower, too, attracted much of his atten
ton; be bestowed frequent glances upon il,
muttering, what | conceived 10 be poetry. in
spred BY the beauty and deicacy Of the flower.
| Was considering how | might best com
meuce conversation which would acquire me
the good sraces OF this gentleman, and ulti
mately make me the possessor of the camellia,
when he saved NE the trouble of breaking the
ice, by saying:
"CauddIy, sir, what do you think Of my
tailor -
replied that had not the advantage of
knowing him, a circums ance which regretted
the more, as his work showed him to be man
OF no common ability added, that he was
fortunate in hayiog "a client whose figure and
air would set off garments, even though fabri
Gated with less consGmmate skill.
He tried to look modesty unconscious, and
said:
And who, sir, may this client be with the
dtfingue figure and air? AS you say that
You do not know my tailor, | might almost
fancy that your truly fiatterng observations
were addressed to me, but my figure, though
not deformed, is small, that is to say. rather
below than above the average size; and as for
my air, though ! hatter myself that possess
some Of that je ne SaiS q,toi which distinguishes
men like you aud me from the vulgar herd, still
neither my figure nor air is worthy of the very
glowing eulogium which you have bestowed
upon them. No, sir, really; no, indeed, sir,
really" and he chuckled, bnked his eyes, and
east glances on his little round limbs of more
than parental fondness. | perceived that be
was not inaccessible to fattery, and did not
despair of obtaining the cameia by fair means.
Il should apologize" said ], "ior so personal
remark it slipped from ME unconsciously
but you must have heard 1t frequently from the
lips and seen it in the eyes of the gentle sex.
You are not insensible to their wilcheries
see that in your eye; nay. that camellia in
your buttou-hoe proves you to be the happy
bondman of some back eyed Houri.'
How did you find that out You must
know something about me; you might have
guessed that | was 10 love; but how did you
find out the color of her eyes?"
"Well, did not know positively, I thought
it likely, most in accordance with the the e,er-
nal fitness of things, that you, who have the
blue eyes, should be ensaved by black ones.
Was right?"
"Well, | can hardly tell you; trust you
may be right; but the fact is have never
seen the ladys eyes"
"Never seen her eyes. All, | see; a mys,
terious courtship. truly poetic, teiIed lady,
gentle voice, white hand, one raven lock just
peeping from its concealment, fairy form, taper
aukles, little tiddly-iddy feet"
Sir said he. graspng my hand, "we are
kindred spirts-you have felt the divine afiiatus
you have struck the wild harp and burst
into the inspiring melody of song. We are
poets, sir, brother poets. Were it not breach
of the confidence she has reposed iu me, |
would tell you the history OF our loves, our
hopes, and our SORROWS"
You forget that so long as you conceal the
lady's name, there can be no breach of conf
dence. She ls the unknown quantity; let y
represent her.
Not Y; shall have TO repeat her name
often 10 the course Of my narrative; she would
then become double, treble, or even quadrupe
y, and she is not stout"
well, then, let Y represent her, it is a
slender aud graceful letter
Good, let Y, for the moment, represent,
unworthily, the name of my adored charmer.
am poet, sir, as you have already perceived
aud not altogether unknown to the public; in
the Poets Corner of the Trotiihgbury Mer-
curry, ersgI m0numeEtum are perennuts! \ ou
may have seen some of my contributions to
that journal signed Beta will just repeat
to you my Ode to the morning"
Pray don't take the trouble; know the
poem by heart, and recited it only last week to
D. at the Athenaum Club. Just low
am burning with impatience TO hear your
story"
You have read my poem, then; had
scarcely ventured TO hope that the weak
breathings Of my muse had penetrated so tar
as Londou.''
why. my dear sir, there are six copies oI
the Trottington Mercury on the tables of the
Atheueum Club, and it is difficult 10 get hold
of one of them; yet no one reads any part OF il