Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-15
A(efau0rla Qbazette
SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTR. IS.

PORSON, T0oKE AND WoLCoTr. r.-PJrson.
tie clevercst and most crra:lc OF creatures, Wsa
the victim of abstraction to an extent that reuI
dered him forgetful at times 10 eat. "Will
you not stay and dina? p asked Rogers the poet.
"Thank you; no; dned yesterday !" be rs.
piled. DIR. Parr asked him before large
assembly what lie thought about the introduo.
ton of moral and physical evil into the world.
"Why, DOCTOR" said Person. Il think V,
should have done very we'll without them
And it makes US laugh to hear an ignorant per-
son. who was anxious to get into conversation
with him, ask if Captain Cook was Killed 10 his
first voyage. Il believe he was answers Por-
SOD, though he did not mind it much, but lm'
mediatelg entered upon a second = I0oke
began life with joke, telling everyone that he
was the son Of Turkey merchant; by which
name he defined bis father trade OF pou!terer.
His ready wit was never at loss; and 1t ls to
him we are indebted for the following We'll
known joke. Nov, young map," said 40 un-
Gle to him ono day, giving him good adVloe,
"as you arc settled in town would advise you
to take Wife" "With all nv heart. sill"
replied Tooke; whose wife shall | take?'
Peter Pindar boasted that he was the oo'y
man that ever outwitted publisher. Being
popular writer his works brought HIM good
income. His publisher wishing to purchase
the copyright and print collected edition, made
him an offer in cash. In order. however, to
drive good bargain. Piudar feigned to be 10
very bad health. declaring he could not liva
long; and every time the publisher camo to see
him he acted the invalid to such perfection that
he got handsome annuity, which to tue dis
gust Of the publisher, he lived 10 epjoy uol'l
the unconscion ,bc age Of eigbtyone.
BEAU BRUMMEL's LAST DAYS. What sorry
figure is this A poor neglected imbecile, lv'
ing in squalid lodgings at Calais. 1t is scarcely
possible to recognize in this unhappy beIug the
once gay and elegant Beau Brummcl, the glass
of fashion and mold Of form 10 tho men aud
women Of bis generation, whom he ruled with
the despotism Of an autocrat. Yet this Is the
Door Beau and no other. lie is holding phao'
tom reception. llaviog desired his attendant
to arrange his apartment, set out the whist
tables and light the candles-alas only talloW--
he ia ready at eight clock to receive the guests
which the servant, previously instructed. now
announces. First comes tho Duchess OF Devor-
shire. On hearing her name the Beau leaves
his chair, and with the courtiest bow, tho only
remnisccnce of his departed glory, he advances
to the door and greets the phantom Duchess
with all the honor that he would have given the
beautiful Georgianna, Ile takes her hand and
leads her to seat, saying as he does so "Ah.
nv dear Duchess, how rel diced am to see you
so very amiable Of you to come at this short
notice. Pray bury yourself in this arm chair
Do you know it vas the gift to me OF the Duch.
ess of York, who was very kind friend OF
mine; but, poor thing, you know, she Is no
more |" At this point tears of idlOlcy would
fall from his eyes, and he would sink into the
arm chair himself, awaiting the arrival OF other
guests, who being duly announced. were similar
iy greeted. With these ghosts Of the past be
would spend the evening until ~ o'clock, Wheu
the servant telling each guest that his or her
carriage was waiting, would carry his poor Oh
master off to bed. We cannot wish him good
ught without The payment Of sigh Tor the
pantomiue he has acted and the sad lesson II
conveys.
AN EMBARRASSING GIrT.-The Alexandra
obelisk is safely packed in its sea going case
and by this date the strange vessel is probably
riggod In fact, there is every prospect that
it will arrive 10 the Thames !o5g before 1t Is
WaDleQ, OT pEOplc huuH nHa1 ~ Wv "'''' Wv
embarrassing block.
Opinion is pretty unanimous that it will ba
moastrosi'y and mote 10 tho eyes OF people
of good taste, in the position where the Board
CT Works has sci up the wooden model Tor crit
icisu. Il would be dWarlcd there by It's vIcln
ity TO the clock tower and the abbey, and /!
would b, quite cut Of keeping with the statues
of Lord Derby and Lord Palmerston and Goth
ic architecture. Tho Horse Guards will not
have it on the parade in st. Jamcss Park,
where it would be 10 the way Of the troops; aud
if it were set up 10 front olthc British Museum.
as has been suggested, it would be lost sight OF
amid the closely surrounding buildings
Does not this difficulty show that 1t is mis-
take to treat the gilt as possible CIVIC orna
menl? Ancient scraps stuck 10 modern sur
rouudinps are-as witness Virginia Water
generally poor in effect, and their true home il
a museum. As things look at present, L1ndoo
is likely to have two awkward antiques, 10 the
shape of Cieopltra's Needle aud Temple Bar,
ou its hands. Would any OF our colonies hike
TO buy them as o souvenir OF the old c7uatry
London Spectator.
OpposID TO FARMING. .--Rcdled letter 10