sketches of young gentlemen(年轻绅士素描)-第5章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
all peaceful men to quail at heart。 They stop to talk。 See how the
flaxen…haired young gentleman with the weak legs … he who has his
pocket…handkerchief thrust into the breast of his coat…glares upon the
fainthearted civilians who linger to look upon his glory； how the next
young gentleman elevates his head in the air； and majestically places his
arms a…kimbo； while the third stands with his legs very wide apart； and
clasps his hands behind him。 Well may we inquire … not in familiar jest；
but in respectful earnest … if you call that nothing。 Oh！ if some
encroaching foreign power … the Emperor of Russia； for instance； or any of
those deep fellows； could only see those military young gentlemen as they
move on together towards the billiard…room over the way； wouldn't he
tremble a little！
And then； at the Theatre at night； when the performances are by
command of Colonel Fitz…Sordust and the officers of the garrison … what a
splendid sight it is！ How sternly the defenders of their country look
round the house as if in mute assurance to the audience； that they may
make themselves comfortable regarding any foreign invasion； for they （the
military young gentlemen） are keeping a sharp look…out； and are ready for
anything。 And what a contrast between them； and that stage…box full of
grey…headed officers with tokens of many battles about them； who have
nothing at all in common with the military young gentlemen； and who …
but for an old…fashioned kind of manly dignity in their looks and bearing …
might be common hard…working soldiers for anything they take the pains
to announce to the contrary！
Ah！ here is a family just come in who recognise the flaxen…headed
young gentleman； and the flaxen…headed young gentleman recognises
them too； only he doesn't care to show it just now。 Very well done indeed！
He talks louder to the little group of military young gentlemen who are
standing by him； and coughs to induce some ladies in the next box but one
to look round； in order that their faces may undergo the same ordeal of
criticism to which they have subjected； in not a wholly inaudible tone； the
majority of the female portion of the audience。 Oh！ a gentleman in the
same box looks round as if he were disposed to resent this as an
impertinence； and the flaxen…headed young gentleman sees his friends at
21
… Page 22…
SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
once； and hurries away to them with the most charming cordiality。
Three young ladies； one young man； and the mamma of the party；
receive the military young gentleman with great warmth and politeness；
and in five minutes afterwards the military young gentleman； stimulated
by the mamma； introduces the two other military young gentlemen with
whom he was walking in the morning； who take their seats behind the
young ladies and commence conversation； whereat the mamma bestows a
triumphant bow upon a rival mamma； who has not succeeded in decoying
any military young gentlemen； and prepares to consider her visitors from
that moment three of the most elegant and superior young gentlemen in
the whole world。
22
… Page 23…
SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
THE POLITICAL YOUNG
GENTLEMAN
Once upon a time … NOT in the days when pigs drank wine； but in a
more recent period of our history … it was customary to banish politics
when ladies were present。 If this usage still prevailed； we should have
had no chapter for political young gentlemen； for ladies would have
neither known nor cared what kind of monster a political young gentleman
was。 But as this good custom in common with many others has 'gone
out；' and left no word when it is likely to be home again； as political young
ladies are by no means rare； and political young gentlemen the very
reverse of scarce； we are bound in the strict discharge of our most
responsible duty not to neglect this natural division of our subject。
If the political young gentleman be resident in a country town （and
there ARE political young gentlemen in country towns sometimes）； he is
wholly absorbed in his politics； as a pair of purple spectacles communicate
the same uniform tint to all objects near and remote； so the political
glasses； with which the young gentleman assists his mental vision； give to
everything the hue and tinge of party feeling。 The political young
gentleman would as soon think of being struck with the beauty of a young
lady in the opposite interest； as he would dream of marrying his sister to
the opposite member。
If the political young gentleman be a Conservative； he has usually
some vague ideas about Ireland and the Pope which he cannot very clearly
explain； but which he knows are the right sort of thing； and not to be very
easily got over by the other side。 He has also some choice sentences
regarding church and state； culled from the banners in use at the last
election； with which he intersperses his conversation at intervals with
surprising effect。 But his great topic is the constitution； upon which he
will declaim； by the hour together； with much heat and fury； not that he
has any particular information on the subject； but because he knows that
the constitution is somehow church and state； and church and state
23
… Page 24…
SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
somehow the constitution； and that the fellows on the other side say it isn't；
which is quite a sufficient reason for him to say it is； and to stick to it。
Perhaps his greatest topic of all； though； is the people。 If a fight takes
place in a populous town； in which many noses are broken； and a few
windows； the young gentleman throws down the newspaper with a
triumphant air； and exclaims； 'Here's your precious people！' If half…a…
dozen boys run across the course at race time； when it ought to be kept
clear； the young gentleman looks indignantly round； and begs you to
observe the conduct of the people； if the gallery demand a hornpipe
between the play and the afterpiece； the same young gentleman cries 'No'
and 'Shame' till he is hoarse； and then inquires with a sneer what you think
of popular moderation NOW； in short； the people form a never…failing
theme for him； and when the attorney； on the side of his candidate； dwells
upon it with great power of eloquence at election time； as he never fails to
do； the young gentleman and his friends； and the body they head； cheer
with great violence against THE OTHER PEOPLE； with whom； of course；
they have no possible connexion。 In much the same manner the audience
at a theatre never fail to be highly amused with any jokes at the expense of
the public … always laughing heartily at some other public； and never at
themselves。
If the political young gentleman be a Radical； he is usually a very
profound person indeed； having great store of theoretical questions to put
to you； with an infinite variety of possible cases and logical deductions
therefrom。 If he be of the utilitarian school； too； which is more than
probable； he is particularly pleasant company； having many ingenious
remarks to offer upon the voluntary principle and various cheerful
disquisitions connected with the population of the country； the position of
Great Britain in the scale of nations； and the balance of power。 Then he
is exceedingly well versed in all doctrines of political economy as laid
down in the newspapers； and knows a great many parliamentary speeches
by heart； nay； he has a small stock of aphorisms； none of them exceeding a
couple of lines in length； which will settle the toughest question and leave
you nothing to say。 He gives all the young ladies to understand； that
Miss Martineau is the greatest woman that ever lived； and when they
24
… Page 25…
SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
praise the good looks of Mr。 Hawkins the new member； says he's very well
for a representative； all things considered； but he wants a little calling to
account； and he is more than half afraid it will be necessary to bring him
down on his knees for that vote on the miscellaneous estimates。 At this；
the young ladies express much wonderment； and say surely a Member of
Parliament is not to be brought upon his knees so easily； in reply to which
the political young gentleman smiles sternly； and throws out dark hints
regarding the speedy arrival of that day； when Members of Parliament will
be paid salaries； and required to render weekly accounts of their
proceedings； at which the young ladies utter many expressions of
astonishment and incredulity； while their lady…mothers regard the
prophecy as little else than blasphemous。
It is extremely improving and interesting to hear two political young
gentlemen； of diverse opinions； discuss some great question across a
dinner…table； such as； whether； if the public were admitted to Westminster
Abbey for nothing； they would or would not convey small chisels and
hammers in their pockets； and immediately set about chipping all the
noses off the statues； or whether； if they once got
