The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-08-21
A Cluster OF Anecdotes.


A Cluster OF Anecdotes.
The last cbapter of Planche's " Rccollcc-
tons" in London Society, contains the toll
lowing:
HOOK.
Hooks fame as an 1nlprOciSatorc is mat
ter of social history but cannot reiram
from giving one instance OF MS powers
which Is as creditahle to his heart as his
head, There had been large party at
house eff some mutual friends OF ours and
Hooks neighbors ut Fuham. 1t was late,
but many still remained. and before sepa-
rating another song was requested OF nun.
He was weary. and really suffering, but
good naturedly consented on condition That
somebody would suggest Il subject. NO one
volunteering, lie said d" Well, think the
most proper subject ut this hour would br
Goodnight, " composed with his usual
facil ". but lacking The fun and nrlliancy
which had characterized his former ehi-
sions. Some od,lity of expression, how
ever, in the middle Of one Of his verses
cllcilel ringing laugh from a fine hand
some TOY. son Of Captain The lion. Monte
cue Stopford, who was staying with ms
parents i'm the house. and who had planted
himself close to the piano.
Hook stopped short, looked ut nm al
miringly for an instant, then. completing
the verse, added. with IN intensity of eX-
preston eau never forget:
"Yuu laugh. and you 9re quite rtIht,
For yours Is The dawn OF moral1V,
Aud Sod send you a goodnight :"
The effect was electrical, and brought
tears into the eyes of more than one OF the
company, while cheer upon cheer arose in
recognition of that charming and touching
burst of feeling.
THACKERAY.
NV acquaintance with Thackeray coni-
mcnced some time before he joined "lhe
Garrick," and while | was the guest of his
cousin. Capt.. Thos. JAS. Thackeray, ln.tbe
Rue du Faubourg st. Honore, during one
of my many visits To Paris. He was ut
that time slim young man, rather
taciturn, and not displaying any par
ticular love or talent for literature.
Drawing appeared to be his favOrile
amusement ana he often sat by my side
while | was reading or writing, covering
any scrap Of paper lying about with the
most spirited sketches and amusing carica-
lures. | have one Of Charles y. firing mt
the Hugueuots out of the windows OF the
Louvre, which he dashed off in few min
utes beside me Oh the blank portion of the
yellow paper cover of Il French drama. A
member of "The Garrick" who was spe-
cially unpopular with the majority Of the
members. was literally drdpn out of the
club by Thackeray. His figure, being very
peculiar, was sketched in pen and INK by
his lmpllcable prosecutor. On every pad
on the writing.tables, or whatever paper
he could venture to appropriate, he repre-
sented him in the most ridiculous and de-
rogatory situation that could be imagined
always with his back toward you, but
llnmistakable. His victim, 1t must be
admitted, bore the dissertation of his
+" lively cffiyics" with great equanim.
ity for considerable period; but at
length, one very strong-perhaps too
strong-eNample Of the ARTISTS graphic
anu sa:lrical abilities, combined with the
conviction that he was generally objection
able, induced him to retire from the club,
ana leave the pungent pen OF MICHAEL
ANGELO TlTaARsH to punish more serious
offenders than bores and toadies.
ROGERS.
Rogers had the reputation OF being very
ill-natured. and many instances have been
given me by others. / am bound to declare
that nil the time knew him never heard
him saw really i'll natured thing Of any
one but he by no means denied the accu-
sation. "When | was young" he OBJ.
served to me, " l used to say sood-nalnred
things, and nobody listened TO me. Now
that l am old, | say ill-natured things, and
everybody listens to me-" So much has
been written about the 9 Poet of Memory"
and so many OF his anecdotes circulated,
both in print and conversation, that shall
only recte few that heard from his own
lips, and, rs nearly as l can recoliect, in his
precise words.
My old friend Maltby, the brother of the
bishop, was u very absent man. One day
at Paris, in the Louvre, We were looking at
the pictures, when a lady entered, Who
spoke to me aud kept me some minutes in
conversation. On rcjoining MaltDy | said,
THAT was Mrs. -. We have not met
for SO long she had almost forgotten me,
and asked me if my name was Rogers"
Maltby, still looking at the pictures, said,
land was it?"
A man stopped me one day in Piccadily
and said, "How do you do, Mr.. Rogers l'
| didu't know him. You don't remem-
Der me. sir. | had the pleasure OF seeing
you at Bath" l said, " Delighted to see
you again-at Bath
1t was the fashion formerly to make your
guests drunk, aud there was gentleman
staying IN q country house, and thew made
him very drunk, and they tarred and leath-
cred him, and put him to bed. In the morn
ing he woke, and he wasn't sober then. He
rose and went to q cheval.gtass, and he
looked ut himself and said, "a bird, by
-"