Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 4.djvu/461

 9th S. IV. DEC. 16, '99.] 493 NOTES AND QUERIES. Nupkins's "blue gauze turban." Pink, not blue, was the colour. P. 10. Jingle's "officer" appearance is more than once noted. It should be remembered that he was a " naval" officer. P. 30. "Mr. Mutanhead" should not be possible in speaking of the idiotic nobleman. Bantam's remark about the gentleman on Clapham Green is warmly commended. A reference to ' Pickwickian Manners and Cus- toms ' (p. 84) reveals an entirely opposite opinion. P. 32. "Waiting their missuses, pace Mr. John Smauker." What is the reference? Certainly not to Smauker. P. 36. The "journal" which Mr. Pickwick entered up at Bath is obviously only a means to introduce the ' Prince Bjadud' story. What grounds there are for calling Snodgrass " the appointed historiographer," and wonder- ing what Pickwick's journal was, it would be difficult to say. The journals of both existed, with other machinery, in the early chapters. They soon disappeared, though the one kept by Pickwick reappears from time to time, being presented to the secretary of the defunct club in the last paragraph of the book. P. 37. "The'Martha Lobbs'story is a poorish thing." Perhaps; but it is Maria,, not " Martha. P. 38. A whole paragraph is devoted to one of the worst blunders ever made :— " The Bush—a genuine Pickwick inn—where Mr. Pickwick first heard the news of the action that was to be brought against him, stood in Corn Street. Mr. Pickwick broke off his stay at Bath some- what too abruptly But he may have had a reason. Nothing is more wonderful than Boz's propriety in dealing with his incidents, a propriety that is really instinctive. Everything falls out in the correct, natural way. For instance, Mr. Pick- wick having received such a shock at the Bush— the announcement of the Bardell action — was scarcely in heart to resume his jollity and gaieties at Bath." And all this when the " Bush," at Bristol, is never even mentioned till the action was over and done with ! Nothing but Winkle's passion for Arabella was ever announced there. It is one of the unimportant places of the book. A more glaring example of bad methods there could not be. P. 40. Jingle's jerky system of elocution would seem "a complete disqualification" (for any post as an actor). 1 have before (8th S. x. 124) ventured to remark that Jingle's broken deliveries were founded on those of Ollapod in Column's ' Poor Gentleman.' The part would suit him to perfection. He uses one of Ollapod's tags, too : " Kent, sir—every- body knows Kent," <fec. The 'Poor Gentle- man ' is a military play, and would just suit a garrison town, and Jingle's repertoire was perhaps limited to characters like Ollapod. In fact, why does Mr. Fitzgerald stick to 'Robert Macaire'? There is enough evidence, and more, to make him certain, absolutely certain, that the ' Poor Gentleman' was the play acted at Rochester—arguing, of course, on the Eatanswill-Ipswich lines. P. 41. In writing of the private theatre with its " London Manager in a box re- ference might well be made to the fine 'Private Theatres' in 'Sketches by Boz.' Dickens was evidently rather fond of the idea. But what has the subject to do with 'Pickwick'? P. 44. It is really pushing things to absurdity to call Nupkins the Mayor of Eatanswill. P. 46. Sam did not meet Job " in the inn yard at Ipswich." The meeting in the yard was at Bury St. Edmunds. P. 51. '"No man,' said Sara, 'ever talked in poetry 'cept a beadle on Bpxin' Day,'" &c. It is rather funny to find his fathers very sensible caution ascribed to Sam, who had provoked it by commencing his letter in a strain which made his father suspect " werse." The mistake is repeated a few lines.later. P. 52. Mr. Fitzgerald has abandoned that reckless " friend " who told him that Trundle never spoke. Now there is a whole amazing chapter on "Single-Speech Trundle." To prove that he was a dolt Trundle's career is reviewed — a rather dangerous proceeding taking up six pages. The very first words are misquoted : A young gentleman ap- parently enamoured of one of the young ladies in scarfs and pattens." The last word is so wonderfulj that it must be a printer's error. There is a grave discussion as to where Trundle and his wife went after the dance at Manor Farm. Mr. Lang, it appears, thinks " upstairs." Mr. Fitzgerald " doubts this theory," and backs his doubts by saying that the day after the dance was Christmas Day, when nothing is heard of them. The day after the dance :was, of course, the day before Christmas Day, when mention is made of Trundle. But the whole chapter defies criticism. Among other good things we read that Wardle thought Bella's marriage " imprudent." Chapter liv. has not been consulted, evidently. Has anything been consulted in the making of this section ? P. 59. Another great theory—that Muggle- ton was Gravesend—is abandoned. Maid- stone is the substitute till the next " identification " takes place. In the mean- time there is the distance .to be considered.