Old wine in new bottles; or, spare hours of a student in Paris / [Augustus K. Gardner].

  • Augustus Kinsley Gardner
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Old wine in new bottles; or, spare hours of a student in Paris / [Augustus K. Gardner]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    pense from Egypt, and the precursor of the celebrated Cleopatra’s Needle ; numberless vehicles of the wealthy flashing with gold and silver, and bearing, beside the driver, one or two pampered lackeys, who, from their stand upon the rack behind, look down with scorn and pity upon all they pass; the numerous booths of mounte- banks with the never-to-be-forgotten Punch and Judy, and other similar shows; and, in addition to the whole,' the crowds of people of all classes and ages, who throng the trottoirs, present altogether a rare combination of no° velty, fun, and splendour, and make the Champs Elysees the scene of never-failing attraction. Here are little car- riages, to which a team of goats is harnessed, whose white coats and graceful appearance recal the fairy tales which excited us so much in infancy; and which now cling to our memories with such tenacity, as to cause a doubt, whether they are in reality the recollections of past events, or illusive creations of the imagination. But these pretty animals have another office to perform, beside that of bringing to our mind our youthful days. The young children of the wealthy delight to ride in these vehicle^ and their good behaviour for the preceding week is thus rewarded. Here are men with learned dogs, who, beside many similar tricks, will tell you the time, according to the watch, by selecting from numbers printed upon cards, and placed before them. This is done in the open air, and all have a right to observe the performance; the owner being compensated by the generosity of the spectators, who throw him a few sous according to their will. I have always felt a strong desire to see the far-famed Punch and Judy, and now for the first time have had my curiosity gratified. Notwithstanding its simplicit}’ and folly, I re- garded it for a time with real pleasure. There is some- thing about it which is exceedingly attractive. I am ac- quainted with men of science who would hardly be sus- pected of a capacity to be thus amused, who have fre- quently seen it, and always with great satisfaction, though possibly it might be for the five hundreth time. ] I am sure, that none of them could have laughed more heartily than I did. In a walk of half-a-mile, I remarked six or eight of these booths, and every one surrounded by a merry crowd. Jugglers, somerset tumblers, “ sights,” as they
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