2017年05月25日
first hippopotamus that hadreached

Do you recognise the portrait? Do you need the help of'Glevering Hall' (how curious the suggestion!). And wouldyou not like to hear him talk? Here is a specimen in hisbest manner. Surely it must have been taken down by ashorthand writer, or a phonograph:
MR. HARRY FOKER LOQUITUR: 'He inquired for Rincer and thecold in his nose, told Mrs. Rincer a riddle, asked MissRincer when she would be prepared to marry him, and paid hiscompliments to Miss Brett, another young lady in the bar, allin a minute of time, and with a liveliness and facetiousnesswhich set all these young ladies in a giggle. "Have a drop,Pen: it's recommended by the faculty, &c. Give the youngone a glass, R., and score it up to yours truly."'
I fancy the great man who recorded these words was moreafraid of Mr. Harry PHOCA than of any other man in theGarrick Club - possibly for the reason that honest Harry wasnot the least bit afraid of him. The shy, the proud, thesensitive satirist would steal quietly into the room,avoiding notice as though he wished himself invisible. Phocawould be warming his back at the fire, and calling for aglass of 'Foker's own.' Seeing the giant enter, he wouldadvance a step or two, with a couple of extended fingers, andexclaim, quite affably, 'Ha! Mr. Thackry! litary cove! Gladto see you, sir. How's Major Dobbings?' and likely enoughwould turn to the waiter, and bid him, 'Give this gent aglass of the same, and score it up to yours truly!' We havehis biographer's word for it, that he would have winked atthe Duke of Wellington, with just as little scruple.
Yes, Andrew Arcedeckne was the original of Harry Foker; and,from the cut of his clothes to his family connection, and tothe comicality, the simplicity , the sweetness of temper(though hardly doing justice to the loveableness of thelittle man), the famous caricature fits him to a T.
The night before we left London we had a convivial dinner atthe Garrick - we three travellers, with Albert Smith, hisbrother, and John Leech. It was a merry party, to which allcontributed good fellowship and innocent jokes. The latestarrival at the Zoo was the England, - a present from the Khedive. Someonewondered how it had been caught. I suggested a trout-fly;which so tickled John Leech's fancy that he promised to drawit for next week's 'Punch.' Albert Smith went with us toSouthampton to see us off.
On our way to Jamaica we stopped a night at Barbadoes tocoal. Here I had the honour of making the acquaintance ofthe renowned Caroline Lee! - Miss Car'line, as the negroescalled her. She was so pleased at the assurance that herfriend Mr. Peter Simple had spread her fame all the worldover, that she made us a bowl of the most delicious icedsangaree; and speedily got up a 'dignity ball' for ourentertainment. She was rather too much of an armful to dancewith herself, but there was no lack of dark beauties, (not awhite woman or white man except ourselves in the room.) Wedanced pretty nearly from daylight to daylight. The blendingof rigid propriety, of the severest 'dignity,' with thesudden guffaw and outburst of wildest spirits and comichumour, is beyond description, and is only to be met withamongst these ebullient children of the sun.
Posted by intentionally at
13:44
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