A Society Clown

anat

poor opinion I have o

e it."-R

ound the dining-room table, each with a dinner-napkin in the left hand; while the right hand was occupied in moving back chairs, to permit of the departure of the ladies for the drawing-room. I could not help thinking that, as they filed off, the ladies looked like queens; while we (especially with the aid of the serviettes) looked

Mr. -- is writing

es

t rather a pity th

asked in reply

ins to write his reminiscences he is bound

t way?"

annot very well tell stories in his own favour; and if he tells them against himself, he affects humility: if he talks about his distin

know what to say, for my consc

nion; for I have just accepted an offer from Mr. Arrowsmith to do a

for a moment. His conscience eviden

e of those things that

hat I cannot very well back out of my agreement with Mr. Arrowsmith, although, candidly speaking, I have no

time since, and have concluded that I could not

intended as a sneer at my calling. To clown properly is a very difficult art, and I am never so happy as when I am making people laugh. I am unfeignedly proud of my profession, on and o

Thackeray. Though possessed of a small voice, few people could sing better, and certainly few could play the

rs, by making an hour pass pleasantly in the library or in a railway carriage. My

e some short notes-(having been a reporter, I may say shorthand notes)-of incidents which have amused me, and which I hope will equally entertain my readers. T

y has