Manners & Cvstoms of ye Englyshe: Drawn from ye QvickDoyle, Richard
General
Manners & Cvstoms of ye Englyshe: Drawn from ye Qvick
Doyle, Richard
Caricatures and cartoons -- Great Britain; England -- Social life and customs -- Pictorial works
deal with them, and were like at that Moment, instead of being
Bankrupts, to be making merry at the Expense of their Dupes. But she
being sullen at my Denial of her Muslin, I did quiet her by the Promise
of a better Piece at FAIRCLOTH and PRYCE'S, who do carry on Business
without rogueish Puffery, and after the old Fashion of English Traders,
according to the Maxim, that "Good Wine needs no Bush," which my Wife,
poor silly Wretch, not understanding, I explained to her did mean, that
stuffs worth the buying, to find a Sale, do stand in no need of
Haberdashers' trickish Advertisements.
[Illustration: _MADAME TUSSAUD HER WAX WERKES. YE CHAMBER OF HORRORS!!_
WEDNESDAY, _September 5, 1849_.]
To please my Wife, did take her this Evening to MADAME TUSSAUD her Wax
Works; a grand large Room, with Gilding, lighted up very splendid: cost
2s., and a Catalogue 6d. The Wax Figures showy: but with their painted
Cheeks and glassy Eyes--especially such as nod and move--do look like
Life in Death. The Dresses very handsome, and I think correct; and the
Sight of so many People of Note in the Array of their Time, did much
delight me. Among the Company Numbers of Country Folk, and to see how
they did stare at the Effigies of the QUEEN, and the PRINCE, and the
DUKE OF WELLINGTON, and the KING OF THE BELGIANS, and the PRINCESS
CHARLOTTE that was, and GEORGE THE FOURTH in his Coronation Robes, grand
as a Peacock! The Catalogue do say that his Chair is the very one
wherein he sat in the Abbey; but it look like a Play-House Property, and
little thought the King where it would come down to figure! A Crowd of
Dames gazing at the Group of the Royal Family, calling the Children
"Dears" and "Ducks," and would, I verily believe, have liked to kiss
their Wax Chaps. My Wife feasted her Eyes on the little Princes and
Princesses, I mine upon a pretty, modest, black Maid beside me, and she
hers on me, till my Wife spying us, did pinch me with her Nails in the
Arm. Pretty, to see the Sovereign Allies in the last War, and bluff old
BLUCHER, and BONAPARTE and his Officers, in brave Postures, but stiff.
Also the two KING CHARLESES, and OLIVER, together; CHARLES THE FIRST
protesting against his Death-Warrant, and his Son Backing him; and
CARDINAL WOLSEY looking on. LORD BYRON in the Dress of a Greek Pirate,
looking Daggers and Pistols, close to JOHN WESLEY preaching a Sermon;
and methought, if all MADAME TUSSAUD'S Figures were their Originals
instead, what Ado there would be! Many of the Faces that I knew very
like; and my LORD BROUGHAM I did know directly, and LISTON in _Paul
Pry_. But strange, among the Kings to see him that was the Railway King;
and methinks that it were as well now if he were melted up. Thence to
the NAPOLEON Rooms, where BONAPARTE'S Coach, and one of his Teeth, and
other Reliques and Gimcracks of his, well enough to see for such as care
about him a Button. Then to the Chamber of Horrors, which my Wife did
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account