circle of Pundits so completely puzzled might be permitted even to hear the bottled sounds of the Bells of Solomon’s Temple, which were proffered for sale to the faithful in the middle ages. For my own part, I see, hear, and understand only this much, that Mr. Home is a very clever ventriloquist, a superior player on the mouth-harmonicon; that he possesses an accordion, probably self-acting, a magic-lantern, a lazy-tongs, much assurance, an accomplice or two—perhaps many of them in various quarters—a large circle of accommodating dupes, and of candid, half-doubting, half-credulous spectators, and that he has been too leniently treated by our friends of the “Cornhill Magazine,” who have missed their chance of detecting an ingenious charlatan.
[From the communications already received on the subject of these articles, and from those yet expected, it may be necessary to recur to the subject in some future number. On this point, should occasion arise, our readers will not be disappointed.—Ed. Once a Week.]
A HEAD OF HAIR FOR SALE.
“But, Monsieur, it is very little.”
“I confess it, mademoiselle, the sum I offer is very insignificant.”
“See, monsieur, my hair is a good colour (it was a dainty rich brown), and it is very long (the perruquier’s mouth watered, for she unbound it, and it fell below her waist). Surely, monsieur, you will give me more than thirty francs?”
“On my word, mademoiselle, I could not offer you a sou more. Your hair is very beautiful, I admit, but in effect the article is a complete drug at present. Trade is dull, very dull, and I know not when I should have use for it. Keep it, mademoiselle, until the times improve. And besides, it is a pity that you should part with it at all.”
(The perruquier saw that the poor fish was ravenous, and he had hardly need to play his meagre bait. The rogue wished to appear indifferent, but he had at that moment in hand a commission from an aged child of fashion who would have given a year’s income for a natural flow of hair like that of the deprecating daughter of need.)
“Ah, well, monsieur! you are very hard, but I must take the sum you offer.”
