The Comic Almanack, Volume 2: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities
David Hume · en
Several fires will break out in and about London, but, as they will be
principally confined to their proper places, no ill-effects will happen,
except in the cases where the servants will neglect to open the
chimney-boards, and emancipate the blacks. About this period we may look
for the reappearance of several muffs and boas from their summer
hiding-places.
Rain may be expected about the 4th, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 30th of this
month. I say it may be expected, but this does not follow that it will
come. If it does not, it will fall at some other time, or probably not
at all; but the reader may rely upon one or the other of these
meteorological phenomena taking place.
A SINGULAR RAILWAY ACCIDENT will happen from using two engines, one
before and the other behind; which, not acting together, will crumple
the train up between them, like the back of an insulted cat. The tender
will vindicate its claim to its title by being crushed to pieces.
NOVEMBER.
A dense fog—an English festival of "St. Cloud"—will visit the
metropolis; during the continuance of which several blunders will be
made by the Londoners which would not otherwise have occurred. A
celebrated literary hydropathist will be mistaken for a pump of hard
water, until he is run against and found to be soft. The Penitentiary
will be taken for a poor-law union; the National Gallery for a railway
station; and St Paul's and Westminster Abbey for two religious
peep-shows: but Covent Garden Theatre will not be taken for anything by
anybody.
LUDICROUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—The fastenings of a carriage will come
undone and the train will speed on to the terminus, whilst the
travellers behind are left half-way in the midst of a flooded cutting.
DECEMBER.
The Young England party will be decidedly in the ascendant at the
commencement of the holidays; and materially affect "the social
condition of the people" in the house.
Popular lectures on "cold," at the Polytechnic Institution, when the
Professor will have the subject at his fingers' ends. Dr. Ryan, having
frozen water in a red-hot crucible, will next make a piece of ice
red-hot without melting it, by reversing the process.
The march of intellect will be found to have altered all the old
Christmas objects of revelry. The yule log will be supplanted by an
Arnott's stove; the homely carol, by an Italian scena, which the singer
does not understand; the wassail bowl, by British brandy, or perhaps
something better; and the mummers, by the far more dangerous false masks
and manners of society, as at present constituted.
TREMENDOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—Four trains will meet at a cross junction
line exactly at the same time. Every precaution will be taken to avoid
danger, as soon as the accident has occurred.
THE
COMIC ALMANACK
FOR 1847.