Produced by David Widger CORNELIUS O’DOWD UPON MEN AND WOMEN AND OTHER THINGS IN GENERAL By Charles Lever Originally Published In Blackwood’s Magazine 1864 CONTENTS: Myself. A Friend Of Gioberts: Being A Reminiscence Of Seventeen Years Ago. Garibaldi’s Worshippers. Something About Solferino And Ships. The Stranger At The Croce Di Malta. The Strange Man’s Sorrow. Italian Law And Justice. The Organ Nuisance And Its Remedy. R. N. F. The Great Chevalier D’industrie Of Our Day. Gàribàldi A New Investment. Italian Traits And Characteristics. The Decline Of Whist. One Of Our “Two Puzzles”. A Masterly Inactivity. A New Hansard. Foreign Clubs. A Hint For C. S. Examiners. Of Some Old Dogs In Office. Decline Of The Drama. Pensions For Governors. A Grumble. Of Our Brothers Beyond The Border. The Rule Nisi. On Climbing Boys. Linguists The Old Conjurors And The New. Gambling For The Million. The Intoxicating Liquors Bill. TO JOHN ANSTER, ESQ., LL.D. My dear Anster, If you knew how often I have thought of you as I was writing this book,--if you knew how there rose before my mind memories of long ago--of those glorious evenings with all those fine spirits, to think of whom is a triumph even with all its sadness,--and if you knew how I long to meet once more the few soldiers who survive of that “old guard,”--you would see how naturally I dedicate my volume to him who was the best of us. Accept it, I beg you, as a token of recollection and regard from your affectionate friend, CORNELIUS O’DOWD. Lago Maggiore, July 20,1864. NOTICE. AMIABLE AND ACCOMPLISHED READER, As I have very little to say for myself that is not said in some of my opening pages, there is no need that I should delay you on the threshold. You will learn, if you take the trouble, by what course of events I came to my present pursuit, converting myself into what a candid, but not complimentary, friend has called “a diverting Vagabond.” The fact was, I gave the world every reasonable opportunity of knowing that they had a remarkable man amongst them, but, with a stupidity all their own, they wouldn’t see it; so that when the solicitor who once gave me a brief died--I believe it was a softening of the brain--I burned my wig and retired from the profession.