The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-31
CHATS ABOUT BOOKS.
Odd English People Discussed by
the Doctors Family.
my SlOryr-"A Passionate Pilgrim"-"At
The Sign Of the Silver FlagOn."
xsoLIsH KccENrRIcs AND rccENrRIclrIEs.

Eccentrics and Eccentricites," by John limbs
(Scribner, Wexford & Armstrong;. "Eow very
grotesque these pictures are. II takes considera
bic faith to believe the story told oy this rontis
piece or the Earl OF Bridgewater and his dogs.
Here are dozen dogs OF all sizes and breeds
seated at the dinner table. with napkins about
their necks and eating or plates like human be-
Ings, and each with a servant behind his chair.
The funniest thing in the picture rs the placid face
OF the eccentric Earl who is seated at the mead OF
the table calmly reading nom a book"
The NoTHER-"Vathek'' Beckiord, he is
called. after tale he wrote heads the list OF Eng
lisn eccentrics OF wealth an fashion. Beckford's
Income was over flOo,o and he spent II like
water whenever his impulses dictated. His hobby
was TO have erything done In the shortest pos
rible time, and ne spared no money to carry out
his plans. He had wall twelve feet high
and seven miles long built around his grounds.
His house, Fonthil, cost f273,oOO and was orna-
mented by tower 26o feet high. To have this
place built within a certain time ne employed 400
worKmen night and day until 1t was completed
IL was one OF the most remarkable places IN all
England and was sold to a mlser named Far
guhar.
FEIICIA-A strange sort OF q miser too, for he
would satisfy his hunger with a crust OF bread
and give away hundreds OF pounds TO the poor.
He spent eco a year upon himself and gave away
alOOO0
Miss RACHPL-No book or eccentrics would be
complete without something about Beau Brum-
nell, and Mr.. limbs gives that worthy consider
able space.
FELIoIA-Poor Brummell' cannot help feeling
sorry for hlm, his ending was so miserable.
FRED-He did say some pretty funny things
during his brilliant career. Having been asked
10y sympathizing friend how he happened TO get
know, Ileft my carriage yesterday on my way TO
town from the Pavilion, and the infde Of
landlord put me into room with damp
stranger"
The DOCTOR Caughing)-That was funny, but
the Beans best sayings were his impudences
FELIcIA-It seems to me that the portraits In
this book are too grotesgue even Tor eccentrics
some OF them do not look human.
MISS RAcHEL-What singular institution
Gretna Green was. and how wildly romantic some
OF the scenes enacted Whereabouts.
FELICIA-I should like 10 have heard old Peter
Elliott tell OF the beautiful daughters OF England
whom, with whip and spur and shout ana wild
halloo ne had carried at the gaop across the bor-
der; the pursuing guardian, or Tilted lover, or
angry father In sight behind urging on postboys,
who also whipped and spurred, and balooeo but
uook care never TO overtake the fugives until TOO
late.'
FRED-One OF these miserable knot-tyers test-
fed to having married between 700 and 500 couples
a year
Miss RACHEL-One OF the stranges- mser lodges
l ever read OF was that OF Thomas Cooke, WAC
used to fall down in make-beheve 1T In front OF
a respectable house, so that the good Samar1tans
would take him in and give HIM some thing to eat
after bringing him to-
FRED-When want 70 go into a "side specula.
ton.n az Colonel Sellers has 1t, shall 20 to Lon.
don and hire out dust sitter. To think OF one
woman finding enough '.perquisitesp among this
refuse TO build house and live comfortably in
her Old age.
Miss RAcHEL-How very singular for Russia to
have sent to England and bought dust heap for
the rebuilding OF MOSCOW.
FKLICIA-Even practical man like Rothschild
believed In luck and would have nothing to do
with an unfortunate man. no matter how clever
he might be.
FREp-Rothschid said that his success all turned
upon one maxim, which was, that he could DO
what another man could "Another advantage I
had, was an of-hand man. / made q bargain at
once.u
FKLICrA-Just think Of that wretched old miser
Neiid leaving 100000 to Queen Victoria. How
thoroughly absurd when he might have done so
much good with 1t.
called remarkable; to have risen from a groom to
be Q great statesman, and the friend OF kings
proves the truth OF the adage that truth is
stranger than fiction.
FgLIcA-I do not see why he should come under
the head OF eccentrlcs.
FRED-Hapnah Smell is one OF the most curious
cases in the book. To think OF q woman, disguised
as q common soldier, serving for years in war as
well as peace without ner sex being discovered.
Her singular adventures are stranger than ro-
nance.
MISS RAcHEL-Here is a story told OF DR.. George
Fordyce that I have always heard attributed to
Dr. ADernethy, but MIR. limbs insists upon It's
being DR.. fordyce.
FELIcIA-what Is the story
Hiss RAcHEL-About his calling on lady on his
way home from a dinner party and being so full
that he could not count her pulse beats. Conscious
OF the cause OF his difficulty he, IN moment OF IT.
ritation, blurted out Drunk, by Jove ~ and
rushed out OF the house. The next day the lady
sent for him, and said that she lamenred that he
had discovered her condition and begged that ne
would keep 1t secret
FRED-That Is a good story told OF Lady Clare
mont, whose physician ordered her to take tea
spoonful OF brandy In her tea. The old lady
rather liked the dose. and when pouring out the
brandy would turn the spoon upside down, and
tDcu "Acu sue uou BOttcu . BoOu ocdi ia uci Cup
she would discover her mistake and measure out
the quantity on the right side OF the spoon.
Miss RAcHEL-It seems to me that it is drawing
a long DOW to put Charles Matthews Hood, Lamb
and Mrs Garrick among the eccenbrics. They
were no more eccentric tnan any one possesslI q
gram OF originality.
The DocToR-The chapters concerning them add
to the interest Of very interesting book, and If
we define eccentric as departing from the usual
course they come under that head, but 90 40
thousands OF others.
AT THE SIGN OF THE SILVER PLAGoN
what miserable weather. said the Doctor
coming in from his daily rounds and seating him.
self by the library fire. .yust hand me that POKER,
Felicia; want to agltate these coals.n
The MoTHER-You VIII have that fire out, Doctor,
ifyou do not stop poking IL. l never saw a man
who would let a fire alone until he had ruined IT,
The DoCToR-To set In 'front.' Of a soft coal are
with a poker In my hand, TO give force and unc-