National Republican., 1886-07-07

and forgotten, he dragged on his poor aud
lonely life, until, In 1861, he died at the age
OF 81. His immediate successors were fall
ures. There could be but one Nash. In
1869 there were Two candidates for the po-
eition then vacant, and so bitter were their
respective partlsans that each side elected
its own master OF ceremonies. Scurrllity
ran Wild. A political fight was nothing
to IL. Haudbills, squibs, posters were
circulated, In which one party repre-
sented the other as set of
gamblers, fortune hunters, and adven-
turers. The other retorted with "rope-
makers, chambers, cheesemougers, which
was esteemed much the more cutting at
tack Of the two. The two parties met In
the assembly rooms, and from words soon
passed to blows. The ladies fought gal
lantly for their respective favortes; lace flew
in a cloud, from which apparently rained
storm OF books; faces were scratched, aud
one or two people seriously injured. The
mayor was sent FOR, and when he appeared,
was obliged to read the riot act thrice
before he could quiet the angry passions OF
the bellies and their cavaliers. Probably the
riot act has never elsewhere been necessary
under circumstances so unique. Sheridan,
who was In Bath at the time. thus describes
the scene.
Fair nymphs achieve illustrlous feats,
on fly their fuckers cape, and tetes:
Emitting many strange perfume;
Each tender form Is strangely battered,
And odd things here and there lie scattered.
Sheridan was much at Bath In his younger
ays, and when he left 1t twas to elope with
ne OF It's loveliest bellies, Miss Linley. He
and the other writers Of light literature OF
the last century have peopled Bath with the
creations OF their minds. | am always look
ing for Mrs. Malaprop's house, and con-
stantly thinking there must be memorials Of
her "illegible" niece, Lydia Langulsh.
In the corner house there stayed crusty
old Matt. Bramblo, from the pages OF
"Humphrey Clinker." Smollett, by the
way, was the sworn enemy Of Nash, and
had many fling at him In his books. The
latter Is said to have prevented Smollett,
by some means, from practicing as a
physician at Bath. Tom Jones, Peregrine
Pickle, and, later, dear old Pickwick were
all sworn friends to Bath. Not 80 real TO
us are those who In the flesh frequented the
city. Stern, Fielding, Pope, Wsrbprton
were constantly there. Fat old James
Quin, actor, gourmand, and wit, lived and
died there. Garrick, his constant friend,
wrote his epitaph, still to be seen in the
abbey. Near 1t is mural tablet in
scribed to United States Senator Bing-
ham, of Pennsylvania, who died here
in 1904. Further along is an in
scription to one, who, considering some Of
the qualities of the Bath waters, must be
much out OF his element, viz: Nautilus.
The fame Of William Mcyler, who is buried
here, rests upon one stinging epigram,
leveled at the opposition newspaper OF
Bath:
If story you'd wish to spread the town
Go tell il to Blab as a secret profound,
But II It's secret you d hush every word of,
Let the Register print 1t, twill never be heard
OF.
The walls of the abbey are covered thick
with memorials, jumbled together without
fingers breadth between them. Their
number suggested the following witty
couplet to Bathonian whose own name
now adorns tablet;
These walls, adorned with monument and dust,
Show how Bath waters serve to lay the dust.
The office OF master Of ceremonies
still exists, and II II be shorn Of some OF its
labor by the diversion Of late years OF tou-
rists to the continent, 1t has lost nothing OF
dignity. II is not forty years since Maj.
Gen. Jervoise, after an apprenticeship Of
two decades in Beau Nash's office, was
made governor OF Hong Kong, the British
| authorities considering, and rightly, too,
that he who could govern the turbulent
beauties Of Bath could govern anything. !
have intimated above that Bath is now less
| frequented than Of old, owing to the coun-
ter attractions OF the seaside aud the con-
| tinent; but the cholera Of the last two
| years has proved yeritable boon to 1t, as It
has to all other English resorts. Bath has had
boom. II had fallen into the demure quiet
Of decaying age, but crowds of gay tourists
have rejuvenated It. During the season It
is bright and cheerful, its wide, clean streets
are traversed by busy idlers, among whom
predominant retired "Indians" and half
pay officers. The former come to Bath to
! get warm In the shelter Of its surrounding
hills, for the change from India to the cold
OF England is bitter trial for them. The
AS cheap as 1t is charming, not an unim
portant consideration when retiring al
lowances are as small as they are In the
English army. L. A. l..