AV News 189 - August 2012
And how do you discover these gems? By looking in the very helpful subject
index. For example, how about: Eating, Drinking and Sleeping, with the
generality of people, the three Important Articles of Life. Or how about:
Hoods, coloured, a new Invention. (Hoodies, watch out!!!) Or: Salutations,
subject to great Enormities.
As with all journals, we find that the letters page offers plenty of delights
and in my index, the subjects are obligingly listed. Let me quote from one of
them plus the Spectator's reply.
'Dear Mr Spectator,
I happened some Days past to be at the Play where, during the Time of
Performance, I could not keep my Eyes off from a beautiful young Creature
who sat just before me and whom I have since been informed has no
Fortune. It would utterly ruin my Reputation for Discretion to marry such a
one……My Mind has since been so wholly bent on her, that I am much in
danger of doing something very extravagant without your speedy Advice.'
'Dear Correfpondent,
Would you marry to please other People, or your self?'
And one more subject: Bodily Exercises, of ancient Encouragement. This
one is a discourse on country sports including wrestling and a rather rough
form of football. But all seen as a way of charming the ladies and winning a
Conquest. What's new?
So, if you want to have a go at this visual challenge find a second hand
bookshop and an early Spectator. It has run through many reprints including
an Everyman Edition. But do go for an early one if you can. There's nothing
like the feel of the work as it originally came out. And the early one has the
better index. But if you want some good explanatory notes go for the 1908
Macmillan Edition.
P.S. …and there's a
nice one about
Gents
insulting
each
other
by
Pinching Noses.
It could catch on!
...and here is a
picture that might
help.
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