The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-16
MODERN ECCENTRIOS.
sAOr ADAMS. TEE AsrRoLoenn.

was Jack Adams; his nativity was calculated
by Partridge, who affirmed that he was born on
ne Sd of December, 1925, and that he was 30
treat natural or simpleton as to be obliged TO
wear long coats, besides other marks of stu
piaiiy; and that the parish not only maintained
him, but allowed ia nurse to attend him to pre-
warve hlm from harm. Allusion is made TO him
IN q satirlcal ballad OF 1866
"Jaek Adams sure was pawet (poet) by the VEIN"
And in the Wits; or Sport Upon Sport, 1852,
No read Of his visit TO the Red Bull play
NOuse, where ''Simpleton the smith, appearing
en- the stage with large piece OF bread-and-
butter Jack Adams, knowing him, cried out,
saGuz Ouz, give me some," to the great pleasure
Of the audience. Ned Ward thus mentions his
eelebnty:-
''what mortal that has sense or thought
Would strip Jack Adams OF his cOatH
Or who would be by friends deooyed
To wear badge he would avoidr
Jack Adams became coniuror and professor
81 the celestial sciences at Clerkenwell Green;
he was "a blind buZZard, who pretended to have
the eyes OF an eagle" He was chiefly employed
IN hOrary questions, relative to love and mar
Thgej and knew, upon proper occasions, how TO
seOthe and hatter the expectations OF those VINO
consulted him, ~ man might have much
better fortune from him Tor five guineas than Tor
the same number of shillings. He affected
singular dress, and cast horoscopes with great
solemnity. When he failed in his predictions he
declared that the stars did not absolutely per
form, but powerfully incline, and threw the
blame upon wayward and perverse fate. He
assumed the character of a learned and cunning
man, but was not otherwise cunning than as he
khew how to overreach those cre1ulous mortals
who we're as willing to be cheated as he was to
cheat them, and who relied implicitly upon his
art. Mr.. Warner says;-"A short time after we
removed into the house (No. Z Clerkenwell
Green) two young women applied to have
thelr fortunes told. Upon being informed
they we're under some mistake, one eX-
pressed great surprise, and stated that
was the place she always came to, and
she thought some of Mr.. Adams family always
resided there. This was the first time / ever
heard anything OF Jack Adams. Several familiar
applications were made bv other persons, aud
we afterwards learnt that it had been occupied
by persons of that profession for many wears.
and they generally went by the name OF Adams
In an old print we have Jack Adams in fan
aastic dress, with a tobaccO-ppe In his girdle,
standing at a table on which lies a'horn-book
and "Poor Robins Almanack." On one shelf is
3 row OF books: and on another several boys
playthings, particularly tops, marbles and a
small drum. Before him is a man genteelly
dressed, presenting i've guineas from his mouth
proceeds label inscribed, rs she pr1ncessW
This is meant for Carleton, who married the
pretended German princess. Behind him is
ragged slatternly woman, who has also label
in her mouth with these words, Sir, can you
bell my fortune?" In "Poor Robins Almanackn
fsT 1886, are these lines:-
Now should choose 10 invoke muse
MUSES. are tickle madams;
Else could go my poem through,
Ire you could say Jack adams"
In the City of London library is an original
Print OF Jack Adams, and copy by Caulheld.
LADY ARCHER.
This lady, formerly Miss West, lived to a good
aRe-a proof that cosmetics are not so fatal as
some would have us suppose Nature had given
her q fine aquiline nose, like the princesses of
me House OF Austria and she did not fail to give
herself complexion. She resembled a fine old
wainscoted painting, with the face and features
shining through a thick incrustation of copa
Farnish.
Her ladyship was for many years the wonder
Ni the fashionable world, envied by all the
ladies o: the Court of George the Third.
She had a well,appointed house in Port
land Place. Her ,equipage was, with her, a
sort of scenery. She gloried in milk.whlte
horses to her carriage; the coaChman and foot
man wore very snowy llveries; and the carriage
was lined with silks OF tint to exhibit her COM
PlexiOn TO advantage.
Alexander Stephens, amongst whose papers
was found this account OF Lady Archer, tells
ms that he recollected to have seen Mrs. Robin
son (the Perdatd OF the Prince of Wales lock-
70 far beyond all this i'll the eXuberance of her
genius, with yellow lining to ner landau, with
a black footman, to contrast with her beautiful
eompleXi n and fascinating figure, and thus
render both more lovely. Lady Archer lived
at Barn Elms Terrace, and her house had the
most elegant ornaments and draperies TO strike
abe senses, and yet powerfully address the
Imagination. She could give an insinuating
interest to the scenes about her. Her kitchen
garden and pleasure grounds, of i've acres
the Thames flowing in front, or no
portion of the estate-the apartments deco
rated in the Chinese style, and opening into
lighthouses stored with fruits OF the richest
growth, and greenhouses with plants of great
rarity and beauty, and superb couches and
araperies, effectively placed rendered her home
sort Of elysium OF luxury.
OoLLEY CIBBER's DAUGHTER.
This unfortunate person was the youngest
child OF Colley Cibber, and married a singer
named Clarke. There seems TO have been q
touch of insanity, certainly there was nc
power of selfcontrol, in this poor woman
From her childhood she had been wild, way
ward, and rebellious; selftaught, as boy nigh
be, and with nothing feminine in her character
Orpursuits. With sef-assertion, too, she was veal
enough to be won by knave with sweet voice
whose cruel treatment drove his intractabl
wife to the stage, where she failed to prof
by her fine opportunities. Mrs. Clarke love,
10 play male characters, and of the many, tina
Of "Plume" was her iayorite. At the Haymarke
Theatre in 1745, she played captain Macheath
and other masculine parts, before she attempte
10 pass herself off upon the world, or hide hel
self from II, as man.
DIR. Doran, in his amusing book, Their Mi
jesties Servants" writing Of the year 1857, thG
OF COlley Cibber's death, says;-"While the bod
Of the Poet Laureate was belng carried 10 Wes
minister Abbey, there was up away in street
then desolate Clerkenwell and starving, Colley
only daughter, Charlotte Clarke. Seven an
twenty Nears before. she had inst como npO