The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns, and Hoaxes of Theodore HookHook, Theodore Edward
General
The Choice Humorous Works, Ludicrous Adventures, Bons Mots, Puns, and Hoaxes of Theodore Hook
Hook, Theodore Edward
English wit and humor
In better society things will grow even worse. The mind restricted
to drudgery through the week must have relaxation at the end of it;
and the tradesmen and clerks, and their ladies, sweethearts, and
wives, have a right, in this Christian and civilized country, to
share the innocent pleasures of the male part of the creation on the
only day upon which they can properly enjoy them. What can be more
innocent than going to Richmond, walking upon the hill, or paddling
about by the water? What more agreeable or healthy than steaming to
Gravesend (where the animosity of the people towards the aristocracy
has recently been evinced by their conduct towards the Pier)? What
more natural than to eat and drink when arrived there?--No; that is
contrary to the law. What! of nature or nations!--No; of Agnew and
of Peter. Surely if young ladies are satisfied with soles and eels,
and ducks and peas, and sage and onions, and port wine and punch,
and such things as these, all eaten fairly and above-board at open
windows or in the open air, such persons as Peter and Agnew should
rejoice thereat. Confine them in London, deny them harmless gaiety,
pen them up with their lovers and friends, tell them they must not
stir out, and, like the Snips and Snobs of inferior life, they
will turn their thoughts into other channels, and soles and eels,
and ducks and peas, will shortly sink in their estimation, only,
however, to give place to a catalogue of other things too numerous
to mention in the short space of an advertisement.
Oh, if these Agnews and Peters would but be content to take man as
God has been pleased to make him, and allow him the free agency with
which the Divinity has invested him, how much more wisely would they
act! If they themselves believe that piety consists in eating cold
meat on Sundays, in avoiding carriages, in eschewing all sorts of
social conversation; if they see perdition in a plum-bun, and utter
destruction in a glass of mild ale, let them henceforth live on
frigid sheep, moan, mump, and be miserable, and fast, and grieve,
in direct opposition to the spirit and character of Christians,
observing the Protestant Sunday; but do not let them meddle with
matters which cannot concern them, and by their success in which they
would infallibly corrupt the body of the people, and endanger the
safety of the commonwealth.
THE SPINSTER'S PROGRESS.
At 15.--Dimpled cheeks, sparkling eyes, coral lips, and ivory
teeth--a sylph in figure. All anxiety for coming out--looks about her
with an arch yet timid expression, and blushes amazingly upon the
slightest provocation.
16.--Bolder and plumper--draws, sings, plays the harp, dines at table
when there are small parties--gets fond of plays, to which she goes
in a private box--dreams of a hero--hates her governess--is devoted
to poetry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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