The Comic Almanack, Volume 1: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and OdditiesThackeray, William Makepeace
Philosophy
The Comic Almanack, Volume 1: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Almanacs, English -- England -- London; English wit and humor
FEBRUARY 9.—An elderly "Signer of Fives," who has, for thirty years
past, walked from Walworth to the Bank, without picking up one new idea
by the way, hearing that a deputation of paper-makers had applied to Mr.
Murphy for a little more rain to make their wheels go round, exclaimed,
"Don't tell me, they never can need it; have I not wanted my umbrella
every morning for above a week?"
MARCH 15.—The City Forensic Club applied to the Court of Aldermen for a
contribution; the grant was opposed by one of the Court, on the ground
that they could have nothing to spare for any Foreign-sick Society while
there was so much illness at home.
The same gentleman thought it his duty to inform the Court, that there
was a report on 'Change of an alarming rise in Sperma-City. He said he
had been taken from school so long ago, that he had forgotten its
locality, and requested the Remembrancer to remind him. That learned
gentleman, after referring to a map, said he could not exactly find the
place, but he believed it was somewhere in Wales.
APRIL 1.—At the annual meeting of the Humane Society, medals were
offered for the quickest method of putting disappointed authors out of
their misery—for the means of supplying aldermen, at city feasts, with
hot dinners, and—for the best plan for relieving the baronets from the
agonies they are suffering, on account of their neglected claims.
MAY 15.—_Legacy extraordinary._—A poor old woman, living at Clapham, a
few weeks ago, was given over by the doctor. Her only anxiety was for
her grandson, a scapegrace lad whom she had brought up, and of whom she
was the only relative. He had been placed under the care of a
neighbouring waggoner, and the man was sent for. "Thomas," said the old
woman, "I feel that I'm not long here, and I fear for Dick when I'm
gone. He's a wild lad, and I've nothing to leave him, but I hope you'll
look after him,"—the man nodded assent,—"and try to make a good lad of
him,"—nod—"and do your duty by him,"—nod again,—"and now and then _do
give him a cut or two_!" The authorities at Somerset House have not yet
been troubled to fix the duty payable on this bequest.
JUNE 15.—The following advertisement having appeared in the daily
papers, "FOUND—The wig and gown of a barrister _unknown_," the place of
reference was next day blocked up with applicants answering the
description.
JULY 21.—Lord Durham, in the midst of the cares of his government, has
not been unmindful of the promotion of science. Among other of his
original projects was one for exporting Canada geese, and domesticating
them in the Bermudas. It was discovered, however, that the attempt was
not likely to succeed, since his Lordship, though he might send them,
could not make them stay there.
AUGUST 9.—The recent default in Clerkenwell parish has been the cause of
the following notice on the Church doors:—"The inhabitants are requested
to remember when their taxes were collected, or they will be
recollected."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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