sketches of young gentlemen(年轻绅士素描)-第10节
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followed it were all over； and we were going down to supper； the
inexhaustible Mr。 Griggins produced a small sprig of mistletoe from his
waistcoat pocket； and commenced a general kissing of the assembled
females； which occasioned great commotion and much excitement。 We
observed that several young gentlemen … including the young gentleman
with the pale countenance … were greatly scandalised at this indecorous
proceeding； and talked very big among themselves in corners； and we
observed too； that several young ladies when remonstrated with by the
aforesaid young gentlemen； called each other to witness how they had
struggled； and protested vehemently that it was very rude； and that they
were surprised at Mrs。 Brown's allowing it； and that they couldn't bear it；
and had no patience with such impertinence。 But such is the gentle and
forgiving nature of woman； that although we looked very narrowly for it；
we could not detect the slightest harshness in the subsequent treatment of
Mr。 Griggins。 Indeed； upon the whole； it struck us that among the ladies
he seemed rather more popular than before！
To recount all the drollery of Mr。 Griggins at supper； would fill such a
tiny volume as this； to the very bottom of the outside cover。 How he
drank out of other people's glasses； and ate of other people's bread； how he
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frightened into screaming convulsions a little boy who was sitting up to
supper in a high chair； by sinking below the table and suddenly
reappearing with a mask on； how the hostess was really surprised that
anybody could find a pleasure in tormenting children； and how the host
frowned at the hostess； and felt convinced that Mr。 Griggins had done it
with the very best intentions； how Mr。 Griggins explained； and how
everybody's good…humour was restored but the child's； … to tell these and a
hundred other things ever so briefly； would occupy more of our room and
our readers' patience； than either they or we can conveniently spare。
Therefore we change the subject； merely observing that we have offered
no description of the funny young gentleman's personal appearance；
believing that almost every society has a Griggins of its own； and leaving
all readers to supply the deficiency； according to the particular
circumstances of their particular case。
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SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
THE THEATRICAL YOUNG
GENTLEMAN
All gentlemen who love the drama … and there are few gentlemen who
are not attached to the most intellectual and rational of all our amusements
… do not come within this definition。 As we have no mean relish for
theatrical entertainments ourself； we are disinterestedly anxious that this
should be perfectly understood。
The theatrical young gentleman has early and important information
on all theatrical topics。 'Well；' says he； abruptly； when you meet him in
the street； 'here's a pretty to…do。 Flimkins has thrown up his part in the
melodrama at the Surrey。' … 'And what's to be done？' you inquire with as
much gravity as you can counterfeit。 'Ah； that's the point；' replies the
theatrical young gentleman； looking very serious； 'Boozle declines it；
positively declines it。 From all I am told； I should say it was decidedly in
Boozle's line； and that he would be very likely to make a great hit in it； but
he objects on the ground of Flimkins having been put up in the part first；
and says no earthly power shall induce him to take the character。 It's a
fine part； too … excellent business； I'm told。 He has to kill six people in the
course of the piece； and to fight over a bridge in red fire； which is as safe a
card； you know； as can be。 Don't mention it； but I hear that the last scene；
when he is first poisoned； and then stabbed； by Mrs。 Flimkins as
Vengedora； will be the greatest thing that has been done these many years。'
With this piece of news； and laying his finger on his lips as a caution for
you not to excite the town with it； the theatrical young gentleman hurries
away。
The theatrical young gentleman； from often frequenting the different
theatrical establishments； has pet and familiar names for them all。 Thus
Covent…Garden is the garden； Drury…Lane the lane； the Victoria the vic；
and the Olympic the pic。 Actresses； too； are always designated by their
surnames only； as Taylor； Nisbett； Faucit； Honey； that talented and lady…
like girl Sheriff； that clever little creature Horton； and so on。 In the same
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manner he prefixes Christian names when he mentions actors； as Charley
Young； Jemmy Buckstone； Fred。 Yates； Paul Bedford。 When he is at a
loss for a Christian name； the word 'old' applied indiscriminately answers
quite as well： as old Charley Matthews at Vestris's； old Harley； and old
Braham。 He has a great knowledge of the private proceedings of
actresses； especially of their getting married； and can tell you in a breath
half…a…dozen who have changed their names without avowing it。
Whenever an alteration of this kind is made in the playbills； he will remind
you that he let you into the secret six months ago。
The theatrical young gentleman has a great reverence for all that is
connected with the stage department of the different theatres。 He would； at
any time； prefer going a street or two out of his way； to omitting to pass a
stage…entrance； into which he always looks with a curious and searching
eye。 If he can only identify a popular actor in the street； he is in a perfect
transport of delight； and no sooner meets him； than he hurries back； and
walks a few paces in front of him； so that he can turn round from time to
time； and have a good stare at his features。 He looks upon a theatrical…
fund dinner as one of the most enchanting festivities ever known； and
thinks that to be a member of the Garrick Club； and see so many actors in
their plain clothes； must be one of the highest gratifications the world can
bestow。
The theatrical young gentleman is a constant half…price visitor at one
or other of the theatres； and has an infinite relish for all pieces which
display the fullest resources of the establishment。 He likes to place implicit
reliance upon the play…bills when he goes to see a show…piece； and works
himself up to such a pitch of enthusiasm； as not only to believe （if the bills
say so） that there are three hundred and seventy…five people on the stage at
one time in the last scene； but is highly indignant with you； unless you
believe it also。 He considers that if the stage be opened from the foot…
lights to the back wall； in any new play； the piece is a triumph of dramatic
writing； and applauds accordingly。 He has a great notion of trap…doors
too； and thinks any character going down or coming up a trap （no matter
whether he be an angel or a demon … they both do it occasionally） one of
the most interesting feats in the whole range of scenic illusion。
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Besides these acquirements； he has several veracious accounts to
communicate of the private manners and customs of different actors；
which； during the pauses of a quadrille； he usually communicates to his
partner； or imparts to his neighbour at a supper table。 Thus he is advised；
that Mr。 Liston always had a footman in gorgeous livery waiting at the
side…scene with a brandy bottle and tumbler； to administer half a pint or so
of spirit to him every time he came off； without which assistance he must
infallibly have fainted。 He knows for a
