sketches of young gentlemen-第9部分

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but　upon　the　murderer！'　…　and　thereupon　it　came　out；　in　a　fine

torrent　of　eloquence；　that　the　murderer　was　a　great　spirit；　a　bold

creature　full　of　daring　and　nerve；　a　man　of　dauntless　heart　and

determined　courage；　and　withal　a　great　casuist　and　able　reasoner；

as　was　fully　demonstrated　in　his　philosophical　colloquies　with　the

great　and　noble　of　the　land。　　We　held　our　peace；　and　meekly

signified　our　indisposition　to　controvert　these　opinions　…　firstly；

because　we　were　no　match　at　quotation　for　the　poetical　young

gentleman；　and　secondly；　because　we　felt　it　would　be　of　little　use

our　entering　into　any　disputation；　if　we　were：　　being　perfectly

convinced　that　the　respectable　and　immoral　hero　in　question　is　not

the　first　and　will　not　be　the　last　hanged　gentleman　upon　whom　false

sympathy　or　diseased　curiosity　will　be　plentifully　expended。



This　was　a　stern　mystic　flight　of　the　poetical　young　gentleman。　　In

his　milder　and　softer　moments　he　occasionally　lays　down　his

neckcloth；　and　pens　stanzas；　which　sometimes　find　their　way　into　a

Lady's　Magazine；　or　the　'Poets'　Corner'　of　some　country　newspaper；

or　which；　in　default　of　either　vent　for　his　genius；　adorn　the

rainbow　leaves　of　a　lady's　album。　　These　are　generally　written　upon

some　such　occasions　as　contemplating　the　Bank　of　England　by

midnight；　or　beholding　Saint　Paul's　in　a　snow…storm；　and　when　these

gloomy　objects　fail　to　afford　him　inspiration；　he　pours　forth　his

soul　in　a　touching　address　to　a　violet；　or　a　plaintive　lament　that

he　is　no　longer　a　child；　but　has　gradually　grown　up。



The　poetical　young　gentleman　is　fond　of　quoting　passages　from　his

favourite　authors；　who　are　all　of　the　gloomy　and　desponding　school。

He　has　a　great　deal　to　say　too　about　the　world；　and　is　much　given

to　opining；　especially　if　he　has　taken　anything　strong　to　drink；

that　there　is　nothing　in　it　worth　living　for。　　He　gives　you　to

understand；　however；　that　for　the　sake　of　society；　he　means　to　bear

his　part　in　the　tiresome　play；　manfully　resisting　the　gratification

of　his　own　strong　desire　to　make　a　premature　exit；　and　consoles

himself　with　the　reflection；　that　immortality　has　some　chosen　nook

for　himself　and　the　other　great　spirits　whom　earth　has　chafed　and

wearied。



When　the　poetical　young　gentleman　makes　use　of　adjectives；　they　are

all　superlatives。　　Everything　is　of　the　grandest；　greatest；

noblest；　mightiest；　loftiest；　or　the　lowest；　meanest；　obscurest；

vilest；　and　most　pitiful。　　He　knows　no　medium：　　for　enthusiasm　is

the　soul　of　poetry；　and　who　so　enthusiastic　as　a　poetical　young

gentleman？　　'Mr。　Milkwash；'　says　a　young　lady　as　she　unlocks　her

album　to　receive　the　young　gentleman's　original　impromptu

contribution；　'how　very　silent　you　are！　　I　think　you　must　be　in

love。'　　'Love！'　cries　the　poetical　young　gentleman；　starting　from

his　seat　by　the　fire　and　terrifying　the　cat　who　scampers　off　at

full　speed；　'Love！　that　burning；　consuming　passion；　that　ardour　of

the　soul；　that　fierce　glowing　of　the　heart。　　Love！　　The　withering；

blighting　influence　of　hope　misplaced　and　affection　slighted。　　Love

did　you　say！　　Ha！　ha！　ha！'



With　this；　the　poetical　young　gentleman　laughs　a　laugh　belonging

only　to　poets　and　Mr。　O。　Smith　of　the　Adelphi　Theatre；　and　sits

down；　pen　in　hand；　to　throw　off　a　page　or　two　of　verse　in　the

biting；　semi…atheistical　demoniac　style；　which；　like　the　poetical

young　gentleman　himself；　is　full　of　sound　and　fury；　signifying

nothing。







THE　'THROWING…OFF'　YOUNG　GENTLEMAN







There　is　a　certain　kind　of　impostor　…　a　bragging；　vaunting；　puffing

young　gentleman　…　against　whom　we　are　desirous　to　warn　that　fairer

part　of　the　creation；　to　whom　we　more　peculiarly　devote　these　our

labours。　　And　we　are　particularly　induced　to　lay　especial　stress

upon　this　division　of　our　subject；　by　a　little　dialogue　we　held

some　short　time　ago；　with　an　esteemed　young　lady　of　our

acquaintance；　touching　a　most　gross　specimen　of　this　class　of　men。

We　had　been　urging　all　the　absurdities　of　his　conduct　and

conversation；　and　dwelling　upon　the　impossibilities　he　constantly

recounted　…　to　which　indeed　we　had　not　scrupled　to　prefix　a　certain

hard　little　word　of　one　syllable　and　three　letters　…　when　our　fair

friend；　unable　to　maintain　the　contest　any　longer；　reluctantly

cried；　'Well；　he　certainly　has　a　habit　of　throwing…off；　but　then　…

'　　What　then？　　Throw　him　off　yourself；　said　we。　　And　so　she　did；

but　not　at　our　instance；　for　other　reasons　appeared；　and　it　might

have　been　better　if　she　had　done　so　at　first。



The　throwing…off　young　gentleman　has　so　often　a　father　possessed　of

vast　property　in　some　remote　district　of　Ireland；　that　we　look　with

some　suspicion　upon　all　young　gentlemen　who　volunteer　this

description　of　themselves。　　The　deceased　grandfather　of　the

throwing…off　young　gentleman　was　a　man　of　immense　possessions；　and

untold　wealth；　the　throwing…off　young　gentleman　remembers；　as　well

as　if　it　were　only　yesterday；　the　deceased　baronet's　library；　with

its　long　rows　of　scarce　and　valuable　books　in　superbly　embossed

bindings；　arranged　in　cases；　reaching　from　the　lofty　ceiling　to　the

oaken　floor；　and　the　fine　antique　chairs　and　tables；　and　the　noble

old　castle　of　Ballykillbabaloo；　with　its　splendid　prospect　of　hill

and　dale；　and　wood；　and　rich　wild　scenery；　and　the　fine　hunting

stables　and　the　spacious　court…yards；　'and　…　and　…　everything　upon

the　same　magnificent　scale；'　says　the　throwing…off　young　gentleman；

'princely；　quite　princely。　　Ah！'　　And　he　sighs　as　if　mourning　over

the　fallen　fortunes　of　his　noble　house。



The　throwing…off　young　gentleman　is　a　universal　genius；　at　walking；

running；　rowing；　swimming；　and　skating；　he　is　unrivalled；　at　all

games　of　chance　or　skill；　at　hunting；　shooting；　fishing；　riding；

driving；　or　amateur　theatricals；　no　one　can　touch　him　…　that　is

COULD　not；　because　he　gives　you　carefully　to　understand；　lest　there

should　be　any　opportunity　of　testing　his　skill；　that　he　is　quite

out　of　practice　just　now；　and　has　been　for　some　years。　　If　you

mention　any　beautiful　girl　of　your　common　acquaintance　in　his

hearing；　the　throwing…off　young　gentleman　starts；　smiles；　and　begs

you　not　to　mind　him；　for　it　was　quite　involuntary：　　people　do　say

indeed　that　they　were　once　engaged；　but　no　…　although　she　is　a　very

fine　girl；　he　was　so　situated　at　that　time　that　he　couldn't

possibly　encourage　the　…　'but　it's　of　no　use　talking　about　it！'　he

adds；　interrupting　himself。　　'She　has　got　over　it　now；　and　I　firmly

hope　and　trust　is　happy。'　　With　this　benevolent　aspiration　he　nods

his　head　in　a　mysterious　manner；　and　whistling　the　first　part　of

some　popular　air；　thinks　perhaps　it　will　be　better　to　change　the

subject。



There　is　another　great　characteristic　of　the　throwing…off　young

gentleman；　which　is；　that　he　'happens　to　be　acquainted'　with　a　most

extraordinary　variety　of　people　in　all　parts　of　the　world。　　Thus　in

all　disputed　questions；　when　the　throwing…off　young　gentleman　has

no　argument　to　bring　forward；　he　invariably　happens　to　be

acquainted　with　some　distant　person；　intimately　connected　with　the

subject；　whose　testimony　decides　the　point　against　you；　to　the

great　…　may　we　say　it　…　to　the　great　admiration　of　three　young

ladies　out　of　every　four；　who　consider　the　throwing…off　young

gentleman　a　very　highly…connected　young　man；　and　a　most　charming

person。



Sometimes　the　throwing…off　young　gentleman　happens　to　look　in　upon

a　little　family　circle　of　young　ladies　who　are　quietly　spending　the

evening　together；　and　then　indeed　is　he　at　the　very　height　and

summit　of　his　glory；　for　it　is　to　be　observed　that　he　by　no　means

shines　to　equal　advantage　in　the　presence　of　men　as　in　the　society

of　over…credulous　young　ladies；　which　is　his　proper　element。　　It　is

delightful　to　hear　the　number　of　pretty　things　the　throwing…off

young　gentleman　gives　utterance　to；　during　tea；　and　still　more　so

to　observe　the　ease　with　which；　from　long　practice　and　study；　he

delicately　blends　one　compliment　to　a　lady　with　two　for　himself。

'Did　you　ever　see　a　more　lovely　blue　than　this　flower；　Mr。

Caveton？'　asks　a　young　lady　who；　truth　to　tell；　is　rather　smitten

with　the　throwing…off　young　gentleman。　　'Never；'　he　replies；

bending　over　the　object　of　admiration；　'never　but　in　your　eyes。'

'Oh；　Mr。　Caveton；'　cries　the　young　lady；　blushing　of　course。

'Indeed　I　speak　the　truth；'　replies　the　throwing…off　young

gentleman；　'I　never　saw　any　approach　to　them。　　I　used　to　think　my

cousin's　blue　eyes　lovely；　but　they　grow　dim　and　colourless　beside

yours。'　　'Oh！　a　beautiful　cousin；　Mr。　Caveton！'　replies　the　young

lady；　with　that　perfect　artlessness　which　is　the　distinguishing

characteristic　of　all　young　ladies；　'an　affair；　of　course。'　　'No；

indeed；　indeed　you　wrong　me；'　rejoins　the　throwing…off　young

gentleman　with　great　energy。　　'I　fervently　hope　that　her　attachment

towards　me　may　be　nothing　but　the　natural　result　of　our　close

intimacy　in　childhood；　and　that　in　change　of　scene　and　among　new

faces　she　may　soon　overcome　it。　　I　love　her！　　Think　not　so　meanly

of　me；　Miss　Lowfield；　I　beseech；　as　to　suppose　that　title；　lands；

riches；　and　beauty；　can　influence　MY　choice。　　The　heart；　the　heart；

Miss　Lowfield。'　　Here　the　throwing…off　young　gentleman　sinks　his

voice　to　a　still　lower　whisper；　and　the　young　lady　duly　proclaims

to　all　the　other　young　ladies　when　they　go　up…stairs；　to　put　their

bonnets　on；　that　Mr。　Caveton's　relations　are　all　immensely　rich；

and　that　he　is　hopelessly　beloved　by　title；　lands；　riches；　and

beauty。



We　have　seen　a　throwing…off　young　gentleman　who；　to　our　certain

knowledge；　was　innocent　of　a　note　of　music；　and　scarcely　able　to

recognise　a　tune　by　ear；　volunteer　a　Spanish　air　upon　the　guitar

when　he　had　previously　satisfied　himself　that　there　was　not　such　an

instrument　within　a　mile　of　the　house。



We　have　heard　another　throwing…off　young　gentleman；　after　striking

a　note　or　two