This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 Excerpt: ...Fund stepped in with that promptitude which it always displays in cases of real distress, and many influential persons discussed what should be done for Waffles. At length a vacancy at the Charter-house was offered him, and Waffles, still very shaky, went down in a cab to inspect the premises, and see whether they were ...
Read More
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 Excerpt: ...Fund stepped in with that promptitude which it always displays in cases of real distress, and many influential persons discussed what should be done for Waffles. At length a vacancy at the Charter-house was offered him, and Waffles, still very shaky, went down in a cab to inspect the premises, and see whether they were fit for a gentleman; but when he heard that the brothers were expected to dine at four o'clock he very distinctly negatived the proposition, and went back to dine with the kind friend who had accompanied him, at whose house he got lamentably drunk, and, I believe, insisted on kissing the maid-servant. At last Waffles was got rid of, after he had wearied every friend, by a pension of 80 a year from government, and lives in Paris, under the protection of an old woman who had been his landlady in richer times, and followed his fortunes with a zeal worthy of a better cause. If you go to call on Waffles now, he will tell you most improper stories, at which he laughs heartily, and ends by borrowing a crown of you, which, as soon as you turn your back, is converted into brandy. As the last representative of the old school of literature, it is interesting to visit him once, and a crown is not too much to pay for the curiosity. But you must be a gentleman: though Waffles has sunk very low he won't associate with cads. He'll borrow money of them, it is true; but then he regards that as an honour he pays them, which they should recognise humbly. I think, though, if the present generation cannot write so well as the past, and literature is tainted by the knowledge of French and German we are obliged to bring into action, there will not be many Waffles to represent us. Literary men are expected in these hard times to behave respect...
Read Less