The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 3, September 1837Various
History
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 3, September 1837
Various
Periodicals
It may not be amiss here, to describe the habiliments of John Thomas,
in contrast with the appearance they presented some months before.
The article which adorned his head, would not, at first sight, have
been taken for a hat. The crown and body were not as closely allied
as they had once been. The former now hung back, attached only by a
slight ligament to the latter. Interesting pieces of rim were here
and there observable; and its original color had long since been
changed to a greasy brown. His coat, the donation of some charitable
Falstaff, might have been altered to have fitted better, infinitely
better. The body hung down some three or four inches below the hips,
while the skirt, as he promenaded, almost swept the ground. The
sleeves were rolled up at the elbows, much to the prejudice of the
appearance of the lining; and the collar behind formed an admirable
barricade for the preservation of the latter part of Mr. Tumbler's
head. In truth, that gentleman himself was once heard to remark, that
'it was wastly conwenient as a pillow.' Of his vest we have already
spoken; and it needs but to add, that time had somewhat impaired
it, and that although but one button graced its ample front, it was
still a garment not to be deemed entirely valueless. His pantaloons
could not have been derived from the same source as the coat, for
they fitted him with a tightness which absolutely jeopardized them
at every movement, and gave to his person, as he moved along, the
appearance of a huge penguin. His boots were likewise very venerable,
and but for the sake of appearances, as John Thomas himself very
truly observed, he might as well be entirely bare-footed. The sole
of one of them, however, though but partially attached to the upper,
was perfect of itself; although the big toe protruded from the
breach with an obstinacy truly mortifying to the sensibility of the
wearer, who would sit upon a fire-plug, and contemplate it with that
humiliation which we are all apt to feel on similar occasions. The
sole of the other boot had 'long since vanished,' as Count Rhodolpho
sings in 'La Somnambula;' and the upper, which was immensely
capacious, would sometimes slew so far round, as to disclose to
observation the whole of his right foot. This was a matter of more
vexation to him than the imperfection of its fellow; for he was often
obliged to confine its sides with pieces of twine, in order to keep
it in its proper place; an occupation extremely irksome, and but ill
adapted to his easy propensities.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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