“THE OMNIBUS.”[1]
[1] An “Omnibus” (this explanation is one of pure politeness on our
part, and for the sake of the uninitiated) is a substitute for an
Album; in which, any thing, every thing, and nothing, are quartered
heterogeneously, and made good friends--supposing all this time that
the thing be kept within the pale of proprieties. They are with, or
without covers--written in black or red ink--up or down--crossways or
otherwise, just as it happens. They were first got up by a certain
_coterie_ of ladies, who had sense enough to see that “Albums” are very
sentimental and very ridiculous, owing to the extreme nicety with which
a man must scribble for them; and that by introducing a little more
latitude in this respect, the evil might in a measure be remedied. The
result, ’tis thought, has shown their wisdom.