You know how the law picked my pocket once. Before that time, I was so tender of conscience, that when I was at Hastings I would not purchase a toy or a pair of gloves that was contraband; whereas now-I will not ask you to make me certain whether the articles are smuggled or not say no more - rest your insinuating fame on that. But a prettier-tasted cigar- a leaf with a finer tip of flavor in it, pray, how many cigars might a man smoke of an evening? I have a great mind to try. But I must look at your publications. By the way, you have no pipes, I see; and I observe no bottles. Have neither pipes nor wine?" you 'No, we are exclusively cigar; we have coffee, sherbet, lemonade, all reasonable Oriental drinks to harmonize with our divan, but nothing to disturb the peace of it. Thus we secure a certain domestic elegance in-doors, and can prevent drunkards from coming in to get drunker. A gentleman may come from his dining or drawingroom, and still find himself in a manner at home. Besides, a cigar is the mildest as well as most fashionable form of tobacco-taking; and as it is no longer the mode to drink wine, wine is not sought after.” *

66

*In the article entitled Of the Sight of Shops, as published in the original edition of the Indicator, there is a very graceful and handsome mention of Mr. Honeycomb's friend Gliddon, of King Street, formerly of No. 31 Tavistock Street. "We presume that snuff-takers delight to solace themselves with a pinch of Thirty-seven; and we accordingly do so in imagination at our friend Gliddon's in Tavistock Street, who is a higher kind of Lilly to the Indicator, - our papers lying among the piquant snuffs, as those of our illustrious predecessor The Tatler did among Mr. Lilly's perfumes at the corner of Beaufort Buildings. Since the peace with France, the shops of our tobacconists have become as amusing as print-shops; though not always, it must be confessed, in a style of delicacy becoming their enamoured boxes. At our friend's in Tavistock Street everything is

"That is all very good for you; but for me, who have been casting a wistful eye, as I came along, at the old haunts of Sir Roger and his friends, I confess it is a drawback on a certain fancy I had, when I first came in. However, we must consider what Steele and Addison would have liked had they lived now, and witnessed the effect of the Spectators of other men. It is they that have helped to ruin their own pipes and wine, and given us a greater taste for literature and domesticity; and I comfort myself with concluding, that they would have come here, at least after their bottle, to take their coffee and look over your papers and magazines. There he sits, over the way, Steele, I mean, -the man with the short face; for I perceive there is wit at that table. Opposite him is Addison, in black, looking something like a master in chancery. The handsome man, always on the giggle, must be Rowe; and the other one, an officer, is Colonel Brett. But who is this tall formal personage coming up? Look at him, the very man, Ambrose Phillips. Who would think that his muse was a little dancer in octosyllables, a dandler of young ladies of quality?"

Mine host left me alone to complete my initiation. Another cup of coffee was brought me, and five several publications; to wit, a newspaper, a twopenny sheet, a number to be continued, a magazine, and a review; for I am fond of having too many books at

managed in a way equally delicate and cordial; and while the leisurely man of taste buys his Paris or his Indicator, the busier one may learn how to set up his gas-light in good classical style, and both see how completely even a woman of true feelings, can retain the easiest and pleasantest good-breeding in the midst of observant eyes and humble occupation.". - ED.

once. I looked over these, and then, contented with the power to read them further, continued giving bland puffs to my cigar, and speculating around me. The conversations were maintained in very quiet and gentlemanly tones: now and then was heard the sound of a leaf turning over; sometimes a hem, consequential or otherwise; my own puffs were always distinguishable to myself; and at intervals I could discern those of others, and hear the social crackling of the fire. No noisy altercation here; no sanded floors or cold feet; no impatient waiting for the newspaper; while the person in possession keeps it the longer because you wait: all is warm, easy, quiet, abundant, satisfactory.

*

I conclude the principal visitors of the divan to be theatre-goers, officers who have learnt to love a cigar on service, men of letters, and men of fortune who have a taste for letters, and can whirl themselves from their own firesides to these. If you are in the city, on business, go for a steak to Dolly's; if midway between City and West End, go to the first clean-looking larder you come to; if a man of fashion, and you must dine in your altitudes, go to the Clarendon; but after any of these, man of fashion or not, go if you can, and get your cigar and your cup of coffee at Gliddon's. It is finishing with a grace and a repose.

By the way, I spent a pretty afternoon the other day. It was a complete thing, one thing excepted: but- she's at Paris. I dined, I will not say how

As at Nando's. "What an eternal time that gentleman in black, at Nando's, keeps the paper! I am sick of hearing the waiters bawling out incessantly, 'The Chronicle is in hand, sir.'" Elia's Detached Thoughts on Books and

Reading. - ED.

early; but took only a couple glasses of wine; which will retrieve my character on that point. I then made tour of the book-stalls, at Covent-Garden; bought some comedies and a Catullus; went to the theatre, and saw Der Freyschutz and Charles the Second; reissued from among the perukes, with a gallant sense about my head and shoulders, as if I carried one myself; went and settled my faculties over a cup of the New Monthly at Gliddon's; got home by eleven (for I would not go to a party where she was not); and fell to sleep at the words "Lulling hope," in a song I am writing. 1826.

WIT MADE EASY, OR A HINT TO WORDCATCHERS.

A. HERE comes B., the liveliest yet most tiresome of word-catchers. I wonder whether he'll have wit enough to hear good news of his mistress. Well, B., my dear boy, I hope I see you well.

B. I hope you do, my dear A., otherwise you have lost your eyesight.

A. Good. Well, how do you do?

B. How? Why, as other people do. You would not have me eccentric, would you?

A. Nonsense. I mean how do you

find yourself?

B. Find myself. Where's the necessity of finding myself? I have not been lost.

A. Incorrigible dog! Come now, to be serious.

(B. comes closer to A. and looks very serious.) A. Well, what now?

B. I am come to be serious.

A. Come, now; nonsense, B.; leave off this. (Laying his hand on his arm.)

B (looking down at his arm). I can't leave off this. It would look very absurd to go without a sleeve.

A. Ah, ha! You make me laugh, in spite of myself. How's Jackson?

B. The deuce! How's Jackson! Well, I never should have thought that. How can Howe be Jackson? "Surname and arms," I suppose, of some rich uncle? I have not seen him gazetted?

A. Good by.

B. (detaining him). "Good by!" What a sudden enthusiasm in favor of some virtuous man of the name of By! "Good by!" To think of Ashton standing at the corner of the street, doting aloud on the integrity of a Mr. By!

A. Ludicrous enough. I can't help laughing, I confess. But laughing does not always imply merriment. You do not delight us, Jack, with these sort of jokes, but tickle us; and tickling may give pain.

B. Don't aceept it, then. You need not take everything that is given you.

A. You'll want a straight-forward answer some day, and then

B. You'll describe a circle about me, before you give it. Well, that's your affair, not mine. You'll astonish the natives, that's all.

A. It's great nonsense, you must allow.