Portraits of Children of the Mobility — John Shaqi
Portraits of Children of the MobilityLeigh, Percival
General
Portraits of Children of the Mobility
Leigh, Percival
Caricatures and cartoons -- Great Britain; London (England) -- Social life and customs -- Pictorial works
Master Bill Sims rejoices in the prettily-sounding title of Page. We
say, rejoices, only by a figure of speech; for the various remarks which
his appearance calls forth from his extensive circle of young friends,
render his situation a not very pleasant one. He is not aware, moreover,
of the romantic associations connected with the office which he holds,
and, if he were, the circumstance that he is a Page, not to a Noble
Lord, but to an elderly lady, would rather serve to embitter than
to sweeten his reflections. What makes him so keenly alive to
animadversions on his costume, is, that on being first inducted into it,
he felt particularly proud of his exterior, which certainly underwent
at that time a change for the better, as he was then a newly transformed
Charity Boy. We should mention that before he had been three months in
place, his altered diet made it necessary that he should have a fresh
suit of livery; that with which he was at first invested having become
much too small to accommodate his increasing proportions. The notion
that he is happily situated as to alimentary comforts, has much to do
in provoking the taunts of his juvenile acquaintances, who take a rather
invidious view of his good fortune in that respect. They do not consider
that this is very dearly purchased. Master Sims being forced to forego,
almost entirely, all those little gratifications in which they, during
their leisure hours, can indulge without limitation. In particular, he
is precluded, both from the tenseness of his attire, and the necessity
which he is under of keeping it clean, both of which circumstances
prohibit kneeling, and--we believe we express ourselves
correctly--knuckling down--from partaking of the diversion of marbles,
of which he is passionately fond.
We have now a few observations to make, generally, on that particular
set of the Children of the Mobility with which Masters Curtis, Waters,
and Sims are connected, which may tend, perhaps, to place the characters
of those young gentlemen in a clearer light; though we fear that many
fine minds have been already sufficiently tried by the picture which we
have drawn.
Their curiosity is remarkable. Any person who attracts their attention
by a conspicuous dress--as, for instance, a Highlander in full
costume--is sure to be followed by a crowd of them, and very likely,
provided they are certain of impunity, to be assailed by them with
stones and other missiles. A delinquent of any kind, proceeding, under
the auspices of the Executive, to his state apartments, is invariably
pursued by a train of them. They never fail, also, to collect around the
subject, whether human or brute, of a street accident.
It is desirable that their manners should be a little more respectful
than they at present are. In the use of all titles of honour they are
exceedingly economical, seldom dignifying any one with the term, "Sir,"
but a Policeman.
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