. The works of William Makepeace Thackeray . ting on Royalty are habited now. There they are at Almacksitself, amidst a crowd of liigh-bred pereonages, with the Dukeof Clarence himself looking at them dancing. Now, strangechange, they are in Tom Cribbs parlour, where they dontseem to be a wliit less at home than in fashions gilded halls :and now tliey are at Newgate, seeing the irons knocked off themalefactors legs previous to exec\ition. What hardened ferocityin the countenance of the desperado in yellow breeches ! Wliatcompunction in the face of the gentleman in black (who, Isuppose, has bee


. The works of William Makepeace Thackeray . ting on Royalty are habited now. There they are at Almacksitself, amidst a crowd of liigh-bred pereonages, with the Dukeof Clarence himself looking at them dancing. Now, strangechange, they are in Tom Cribbs parlour, where they dontseem to be a wliit less at home than in fashions gilded halls :and now tliey are at Newgate, seeing the irons knocked off themalefactors legs previous to exec\ition. What hardened ferocityin the countenance of the desperado in yellow breeches ! Wliatcompunction in the face of the gentleman in black (who, Isuppose, has been forging), and who clasps his hands, and listensto the chaplain! Now we haste away to merrier scenes: to DE JUVENTUTE 239 Tattersalls (ah, gracious powers ! whut a funny fellow that actorwas who performed Dicky Green in that scene at the play!);and now we are at a private party, at which Corinthian Tom iswaltzing (and very gracefully, too, as you niust confess) with Corin-thian Kate, whilst Bob Logic, the Oxonian, is playing on the piano !. After, the text says, the Oxonian had played several piecesof lively music, he requested as a favour that Kate and his friendTom would perform a waltz. Kate without any hesitation imme-diately stood up. Tom offered his hand to his fascinating partner,and the dance took place. The jdate conveys a correct representa-tion of the gay scene at that precise moment. The anxiety ofike Oxonian to witness the attitudes of tlie elegant pair had nearly 240 ROUNDABOUT PAPERS put a stop to their movements. On turning round from thepianoforte and presenting his comical mug, Kate could scarcelysuppress a laugh. And no W(jnder; just look at it now (as I have copied it to thebest of my humble ability), and compare Master Logics countenanceand attitude with the splendid elegance of Tom ! Now everyLondon man is weary and blase. There is an enjoyment of lifein these young bucks of 1823 wliich contrasts strangely with ourfeelings of 1860. Here, for instance, is


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Keywords: ., bookauthorritchieannethackeray1, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900