SHERIDAN and KELLY were one day in earnest conversation close to the gate
of the path which was then open to the public, leading across the
churchyard of St Paul’s, Covent Garden, from King street to Henrietta
street, when Mr Holloway, who was a creditor of Sheridan’s to a
considerable amount, came up to them on horseback, and accosted Sheridan
in a tone of something more like anger than sorrow, and complained that he
never could get admittance when he called, vowing vengeance against the
infernal Swiss, Monsieur François, if he did not let him in the next time
he went to Hertford street.
Holloway was really in a passion. Sheridan knew that he was vain of his
judgment in horse-flesh, and without taking any notice of the violence of
his manner, burst into an exclamation upon the beauty of the horse which
he rode--he struck the right chord.
“Why,” said Holloway, “I think I may say there never was a prettier
creature than this. You were speaking to me, when I last saw you, about a
horse for Mrs Sheridan; now, this would be a treasure for a lady.”
“Does he canter well?” said Sheridan.
“Beautifully,” replied Holloway.
“If that’s the case, Holloway,” said Sheridan, “I really should not mind
stretching a point for him. Will you have the kindness to let me see his
paces?”
“To be sure,” said the lawyer; and putting himself into a graceful
attitude, he threw his nag into a canter along the market.
The moment his back was turned, Sheridan wished Kelly good morning, and
went off through the churchyard, where no horse could follow, into Bedford
street, laughing immoderately, as indeed did several of the standers-by.
The only person not entertained by this practical joke was Mr
Holloway.--_Reminiscences of Michael Kelly._
* * * * *
MAID-SERVANTS AND THEIR “FRIENDS.”--Every master and mistress in the
United Kingdom knows what a maid-servant’s friend is. Sometimes he is a
brother, sometimes a cousin (often a cousin), and sometimes a father, who
really wears well, and carries his age amazingly! He comes down the
area--in at the window--or through a door left ajar. Sometimes a
maid-servant, like a hare, “has many friends.” The master of the house,
after washing his hands in the back kitchen, feels behind the door for a
jack-towel, and lays hold of a “friend’s” _nose_. “Friends” are shy:
sometimes a footman breaks a friend’s shins while plunging into the
coal-cellar for a shovel of nubblys. We speak feelingly, our own abode
having been once turned into a friends’ meeting-house--a fact we became
aware of through a smoky chimney; but a chimney _will_ smoke when _there
is a journeyman baker_ up it.--_Kidd’s Journal._
* * * * *
Wisdom cannot be obtained without industry and labour. Can we hope to find
gold upon the surface of the earth, when we dig almost to the centre of it
to find lead and tin, and the baser metals!
Printed and Published every Saturday by GUNN and CAMERON, at the
Office of the General Advertiser, No 6. Church Lane, College Green,
Dublin.--Agents:--London: R. GROOMBRIDGE, Panyer Alley, Paternoster
Row. Manchester: SIMMS and DINHAM, Exchange Street. Liverpool: J.
DAVIES, North John Street. Birmingham: J. DRAKE. Bristol: M.
BINGHAM, Broad Street. Edinburgh: FRASER and CRAWFORD, George
Street. Glasgow: DAVID ROBERTSON, Trongate.