Spranger Barry
THIS celebrated actor was, perhaps, in no part so excellent as that of
Romeo, for which he was particularly fitted by an uncommonly handsome
and commanding person, and a silver-toned voice. At the time that he
attracted the town to Covent Garden by his excellent performance of his
part, Garrick found it absolutely necessary to divide the attention of
the public by performing Romeo himself at Drury Lane. He wanted the
natural advantages of Barry, and, great as he was, would, perhaps, have
willingly avoided such a contention. This, at least, seems to have been
a prevailing opinion; for in the garden scene, when Juliet in
soliloquy exclaims, O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? an
auditor archly replied, aloud, Because Barry has gone to the other
house.
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Solomon's Temple
WHEN Reginald Heber read his prize poem of Palestine to Sir Walter Scott, the latter observed that, in the verses on Solomon's Temple, one striking circumstance had escaped him; namely, that no tools were used in its erection. Reginald retired for a... Something For Dr Darwin
SIR WATKIN WILLIAMS WYNNE talking to a friend about the antiquity of his family, which he carried up to Noah, was told that he was a mere mushroom of yesterday. How so, pray? said the baronet. Why, continued the other, when I was in Wales, a pedigre... Something Lacking
HOOK was walking one day with a friend, when the latter, pointing out on a dead wall an incomplete inscription, running, WARREN'S B----, was puzzled at the moment for the want of the context. 'Tis lacking that should follow, observed Hook, in explan... Something Like An Insult
THE late Judge C---- one day had occasion to examine a witness who stuttered very much in delivering his testimony. I believe, said his lordship, you are a very great rogue.--Not so great a rogue as you my lord,--t-t-t-take me to be. ... Something Sharp
WHEN we heard ---- say a thing of some acidity the other night in the House of Commons, the honorable member reminded us of a calf's head with ... Something To Be Grateful For
LORD ALVANLEY, after his duel with young O'Connell, gave a guinea to the hackney-coachman who had driven him to and from the scene of the encounter. The man, surprised at the largeness of the sum, said, My Lord, I only took you to-- Alvanley interru... Something To Be Proud Of
SHERIDAN was once talking to a friend about the Prince Regent, who took great credit to himself for various public measures, as if they had been directed by his political skill, or foreseen by his political sagacity. But, said Sheridan, what his Roy... Something To Pocket
A DIMINUTIVE lawyer appearing as witness in one of the Courts, was asked by a gigantic counsellor what profession he was of; and having replied that he was an attorney,--You a lawyer! said Brief; why I could put you in my pocket.--Very likely you ma... Sought And Found
THREE conceited young wits, as they thought themselves, passing along the road near Oxford, met a grave old gentleman, with whom they had a mind to be rudely merry. Good-morrow, father Abraham, said one; Good-morrow, father Isaac, said the next; Goo... Sound And Fury
A LADY, after performing, with the most brilliant execution, a sonato on the pianoforte, in the presence of Dr. Johnson, turning to the philosopher, took the liberty of asking him if he was fond of music? No, madam, replied the doctor; but of all no... Sound Sleeper
A MAN meeting his friend, said, I spoke to you last night in a dream.--Pardon me, replied the other, I did not hear you. ... Spare The Rod
A SCHOOLBOY being asked by the teacher how he should flog him, replied, If you please, sir, I should like to have it upon the Italian system--the heavy strokes up-wards, and the down ones light. ... Speaking Of Sausages
MR. SMITH passed a pork-shop the other day,--Mr. Smith whistled. The moment he did this, every sausage wagged its tail. As a note to this, we would mention that the day before he lost a Newfoundland dog, that weighed sixty-eight pounds. ... Special Pleading
WHEN a very eminent special pleader was asked by a country gentleman if he considered that his son was likely to succeed as a special pleader, he replied, Pray, sir, can your son eat saw-dust without butter? ... Species And Specie
IN preaching a charity sermon, Sydney Smith frequently repeated the assertion that, of all nations, Englishmen were most distinguished for their generosity, and the love of their species. The collection happened to be inferior to his expectation, an... Specimen Of The Laconic
BE less prolix, says Grill. I like advice. Grill, you're an ass! Now, surely, that's concise. ... Spirit Of A Gambler
A BON-VIVANT, brought to his death-bed by an immoderate use of wine, after having been told that he could not in all human probability survive many hours, and would die by eight o clock next morning, exerted the small remains of his strength to call... Spiritual And Spirituous
DR. PITCAIRN had one Sunday stumbled into a Presbyterian church, probably to beguile a few idle moments (for few will accuse that gentleman of having been a warm admirer of Calvinism), and seeing the parson apparently overwhelmed by the importance o... Spranger Barry
THIS celebrated actor was, perhaps, in no part so excellent as that of Romeo, for which he was particularly fitted by an uncommonly handsome and commanding person, and a silver-toned voice. At the time that he attracted the town to Covent Garden by ... Ss
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... St Peter A Bachelor
IN the list of benefactors to Peter-House is Lady Mary Ramsay, who is reported to have offered a very large property, nearly equal to a new foundation to this college, on condition that the name should be changed to Peter and Mary's; but she was thw... Steam-boat Racing
SIR CHARLES LYELL, when in the United States, received the following advice from a friend: When you are racing with an opposition steam-boat, or chasing her, and the other passengers are cheering the captain, who is sitting on the safety-valve to ke... Sterne
SOME person remarked to him that apothecaries bore the same relation to physicians that attorneys do to barristers. So they do, said Sterne; but apothecaries and attorneys are not alike, for the latter do not deal in scruples. ... Stone Blind
LORD BYRON'S valet (Mr. Fletcher) grievously excited his master's ire by observing, while Byron was examining the remains of Athens, La me, my lord, what capital mantelpieces that marble would make in England! ... Strange Jetsum
A THIN old man, with a rag-bag in his hand, was picking up a number of small pieces of whalebone which lay on the street. The deposit was of such a singular nature, that we asked the quaint-looking gatherer how he supposed they came there. Don't kno... Strange Vespers
A MAN who had a brother, a priest, was asked, Has your brother a living?--No.--How does he employ himself?--He says mass in the morning.--And in the evening?--In the evening he don't know what he says. ... Striking Reproof
IT being reported that Lady Caroline Lamb had, in a moment of passion, knocked down one of her pages with a stool, the poet Moore, to whom this was told by Lord Strangford, observed: Oh! nothing is more natural for a literary lady than to double dow... Subtraction And Addition
A CHIMNEY-SWEEPER'S boy went into a baker's shop for a twopenny loaf, and conceiving it to be diminutive in size, remarked to the baker that he did not believe it was weight. Never mind that, said the man of dough, you will have the less to carry.--... Sudden Freedom
A NATION grown free in a single day is a child born with the limbs and the vigor of a man, who would take a drawn sword for his rattle, and set ... Suggestion
DO you know what made my voice so melodious? said a celebrated vocal performer, of awkward manners, to Charles Bannister. No, replied the other. Why, then, I'll tell you: when I was about fifteen, I swallowed, by accident, some train oil.--I don't t...