The Lorgnette: Or, Studies of the Town, Volume 1Charles Scribner, 1853 - City and town life |
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The Lorgnette: Or, Studies of the Town. by an Opera Goer. Second Edition. Donald Grant Mitchell No preview available - 2006 |
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Popular passages
Page 50 - ... ear, will do for him vast execution. And as for a genuine Cockney, in exceedingly sharp shirt collars, straight-brimmed hat, and plaid tights, who mouths his words, and says, — "I de-say?" and "it's very odd," and " nice person," and who talks easily about "Yicty," and the "Duke,"— he will bewitch half the women of the town.
Page 232 - ... themselves into the belief that they are passing current in the street throng, as indigenous and unadulterated specimens Indeed, none but a Bostonian would ever resent being taken for a New Yorker ; and so carefully do they of the sister city guard their identity by dress, action, and speech, that none but the most careless observer would ever affront them with the charge. The Bostonian is strongly impressed with the idea that his city is the particular nucleus of all that there is great on this...
Page 173 - It does conclude A lady's morning work. We rise, make fine, Sit for our picture, and 'tis time to dine.
Page 59 - It is wonderful how much pretty talk of travel, and scandal of Paris life, can be accumulated from the morning chats with a little piquant grisette ; and if any ambitious conversationist is desirous of lighting up her evenings with richer foreign tattle than can be gathered from any a scissorings from foreign files...
Page 50 - Albion," with supposed acquirements enough to make him a ten days' wonder. Of course, if a shrewd fellow, his acquaintance at home will be all be-duked, and be-duchessed, and he will prove a rare trump for such ladies as turn up their noses at "money," and who have a keen scent for
Page 59 - Etats-Unis, and criticises the American translations of French authors. She drops her cards about town, dating from the Rue Lavoisier, or de Lille, and leaves a regret with the servant, that she has no American cards about her. She talks in a hurried, broken, epigrammatic way of Paris shops and...
Page 212 - ... by the directors of those days, resolved that half to be more than the whole. Does not the fate of these people put you in mind of two passages, one in Job, the other from the Psalmist ? Men shall groan out of the city, and hiss them out of their place. They have dreamed out their dream, and awakening have found nothing in their hands.
Page 254 - ... day make the hot-house progeny of the town quiver in their shoes. Show me an influential journalist, a rising man at our bar, a preacher at once profound and practical, a physician eminent in his profession, a merchant who is fertile in enterprise, and successful by honest industry, and I will show you one who knew little or nothing of the fashionable life of the town, until his mental and moral character was already formed. On the other hand, show me a lawyer rich in political intrigue, a doctor...
Page 171 - The physician 4 in society' takes very few fees, has few patients, (except his listeners,) is tidy, prim, buckish, and marriageable. The bankrupt gives good dinners, is, shy of his creditors, and is a most excellent churchman. Authors and pastry-cooks are of a doubtful class, depending very much on the tastiness of their wares : a piquant sauce to a pate, or a pair of pants to a lady Alice, will be irresistible. Mr. B- you do not know, or care to know, though you have met him affectionately in i...
Page 272 - Alexander, was used to make his boast, that never any man went beyond him in benefits ; and yet he lived to see a poor fellow in a tub, to whom there was nothing that he could give, and from whom there was nothing that he could take away. — Seneca. DCCCXLU. He who would shun criticism, must not be a scribbler ; and he who would court it must have great abilities or great folly.