The Comic Almanack, Volume 2: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities — David Hume — John Shaqi
The Comic Almanack, Volume 2: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities
David Hume · en
It will now be naturally asked, why my cartoon was not exhibited with
others, some of each were equally monstrous, in the Hall of Westminster.
The fact is, if the truth must out, the cartoon would not go in. Though
I had cramped my genius already to suit the views of the Commissioners,
and the size of the door, I found I must have stooped much lower if I
had resolved on finding admittance for my work. I wrote at once to the
Woods and Forests, calling upon them to widen the door for genius, by
taking down a portion of the wall: but it will hardly be believed, that
though there were, at the time, plenty of workmen about the building, no
answer was returned to my request. Alas! it is all very well to sing, as
they do in Der Frieschutz, "Through the Woods and through the Forests,"
but towards me the Woods and Forests proved themselves utterly
impenetrable.
It will be seen that the arch conspirator—for so I must continue to call
him, though he could not be got into the archway—has placed his hat upon
the ground, a little point in which I have blended imagination with
history, and both with convenience. The imagination suggests that such a
villain ought not to wear his hat; history does not say that he did,
which is as much as to hint that he didn't; while convenience coming to
the aid of both, renders it necessary for his hat to lie upon the
ground, for if I had tried to place it on his head, there would have
been no room for it. There was one gratifying circumstance connected
with this cartoon which, in spite of my being charged with vanity, I
must repeat. As it was carried through the streets it seemed to be
generally understood and appreciated, every one, even children,
exclaiming as it passed, "Oh! there's a Guy!"
GEORGE CRUIKSHANK.
[Illustration:
The Hop Season.
]
1844.] AUGUST.
THE FEAST OF THE GROTTOES.
Surely the antiquity of oysters cannot be doubted; but there is some
reason to believe that grottoes are of a more recent origin. There is a
grotto of the Cumæan Sybil at Naples; but it does not seem to have been
constructed of oyster-shells—though its position near the sea would
indicate that shells of some kind were probably used in its
construction.