The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 20, No. 578, December 1, 1832Various
History
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 20, No. 578, December 1, 1832
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
_Worst Leg_--Theophilus Cibber was by no means wanting in abilities
or humour. He had ill-formed legs; and having projected one of them in
company, which was noticed with a laugh, he offered to lay a wager that
there was a worse in company; and it being accepted, he put forward his
other leg, which was indeed more ill-shaped than the other.
* * * * *
_A Painter's Gratitude_.--Zoffani, the celebrated painter, who was
born at Frankfort, 1735, came to England, as a painter of small
portraits, when he was about the age of thirty years. He had the honour
to be employed by his Majesty, and painted portraits of the royal
family; and he was engaged by the Queen, to paint for her a view of the
Tribune of the Gallery of Florence. He was somewhat of a humorist; and
it is said of him, that whilst he was engaged painting in the Florentine
Gallery, the Emperor of Germany visited the Grand Duke; and coining up
to Zoffani, in the Gallery, was much pleased with his performance, and
asked him his name; and on hearing it, inquired what countryman he was,
when he answered, "An Englishman."--"Why," said the Emperor, "your name
is German!"--"True," returned the painter. "I was born in Germany, that
was accidental; _I call that my country where I have been
protected!_" He was a member of the Royal Academy, and died in 1808.
P.T.W.
* * * * *
_Watching for the Soul._--Margaret of Valois, Queen of Navarre,
being present at the death-bed of one of her maids of honour, continued
to fix her eyes on the dying person with uncommon eagerness and
perseverance till she breathed her last. The ladies of the Court
expressed their astonishment at this conduct, and requested to know what
satisfaction her majesty could derive from so close an inspection of the
agonies of death. Her answer marked a most daring and inquisitive mind.
She said that having often heard the most learned doctors and
ecclesiastics assert, that on the extinction of the body the immortal
part was set at liberty and unloosed, she could not restrain her anxious
curiosity to observe if such separation were visible or discernible;
that none had she been able in any degree to discover. She was suspected
of Hugonotism, and was so devout as to compose hymns.
_Harvest-home._--This custom a Correspondent believes to be
exclusively English; and its rapid disuse in many parts of England
cannot be but a source of regret to those who study the moral enjoyment
of the labouring classes of society. The social meal is now recompensed
by a trifling sum of money, which is either the resource of drunkenness
and debauchery, or at best is but comparatively ill-spent.
_All things by Comparison._--Aristippus being reprehended of luxury
by one that was not rich, for that he gave six crowns for a small fish,
answered, "Why, what would you have, given?" The other said, "Some
twelve pence." Aristippus said again, "And six crowns is no more with
me."
P.T.W.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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