Pickwick Abroad: A Companion to the Pickwick Papers — page 192: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

" » man race. ” $ ; tv 4 : ‘ a 176 “But I he ready,” objected _ the young man 3 “searcely require any more.’ a “ Tf your clothes would shame a str “sweeper, you must have others,” persisted the individual to whose care and guidance Mr. Muggins had 80 prudently consigned his son. «My papa would call it waste,” Master Peter. ~ « Gall it fiddlestick |” cried the Captain ; and as be. spoke he dragged his companion into the tailor’s shop. “Measure this gen- tleman directly, Mr. Snipbodkin ;” and in obedience to this command, which was de- livered in an authoritative tinie of voice, a little man, redolent of Virginia, and breath- ing Barclay and Perkins, leapt from the boards of his counter to those of the floor, and began handling a aster Peter Muggin’s limbs in a highly skilful manner. — ».“'Three, two,” called out the tailor to a dirty boy, who wrote on an equally dirty piece, of paper the numbers indicative of the measurement, which his master pr O- claimed to him. “That’s right,” exclaimed Captain Wal- singham, laughing heartily; .and seating himself upon the counter at the same time, he surveyed with the most critical eye the proceedings of Snipbodkin. A tailor is the natural enemy of the hu- If any misfortune ha toa man, a failor is always at the bottom of it. Who is: it that causes the sudden aaah in society, by the withdrawal of “the best fellows in ine world” from our clubs and amnertaiaes The tailor, of course: he is alion inthe path of every one who owes him a bill: he goes about “seeking whom he may devour.” It It is to eratify his preju- _dices, and minister to his unholy feelings, ‘that those mansions of security, whose walls are topped with chevaua-defrise, were built. It is he who fills them with inmates, Inquire at the Farringdon Ho- tel* or the Royal Repose,t or any similar caravanserail, in or out of town, and you will find that the tailor is the genius loci. It was a happy idea of the Greeks to arm the presiding Destiny with shears; they Wd re two suits of olathe a sald * The Fleet Prison, which is in Farringdon- street. + The Queen’s\Bench. These places of retire- legs, have also been denominated * “Spike Island,” ‘‘Denman’s Park,” &e., &c., by some of their fa- cetious inmates. 4 Tegshare, decayed gentlemen and insolvent black- on al- aie well wat ines tailor’s symbol Wh bi cereditor aspect. smiles and affability : the latter is shown PICKWICK ABR 3 the temblem of Fate. In exercising the at- ributes of his craft, he invariably typifies the future lot of his yictim. He taketh his measure for a double purpose—not only that he may fit him with garments, but that he may know his height, his breadth, and his minutest personal characteristics to a nicety, for necessary | identification hereafter. As he encircles the limbs with his parchment shreds, he is even then think-’ ing of the parchinent writ whereon his name is to appear conjunct with those of Messieurs John Doe, and Richard Roe, at. as early a day as the liberality of his cus tomer wil enable him tosecure. His bast- ing, his’ over- laying, his cutting out and sewing up, are all metaphorically applica- ble to the future. Like the statue of Ja- nus, he has two faces—his customer and his The first is hidden in in strong surly inflexibility. dw premier abord, he is as smooth as silk: when he pays his final visit, he is as stiff as buck- ram. When he is first evoked, he is the slave of the employer : when the term has expired, he is the IneXOY able demon exact- ing the price of his ae e opens the account with cringing humility: he closes it with stern violence. At the commence- ment of his intercourse he heralds his ap- proach with a gentle harmonious at the bell: at the termination thereof, his entry is effected by means of a sullen single knock Joubt his own e trembling- its you iD fear srs the,/ast. He sue er par excellence : bnt if hes suffer, # is not. for conscience’ sake. If the state off societ: y, however, will not permit the | disuse of garments, let us adopt no half measures. Employ the first names in the ‘trade—be liberal m your orders, and magnificent in your style. Re member the dictwm, of ancient Pistel— “Base is the slave” ‘that pays,” and when your tailor sends in your bill, imitate the principle of rejection adop fy in Parlia- ment, and move “ that it be read that day six months,” et aa But while the reader. h had Age to pe ruse » these observations ike substance of which filled Captain . Walsingham’s imagi- nation on this occasion—Mr-. Snipbodkin completed the measurement of Master Pe ter Muggins. | ' at the door. He appears to existence and individuality a ly mente the first sults : he. COMCENOO© ss) (C(O)