DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0047
A PAIR OF PORTRAITS.
33
pall, and wore hoods and belts made of dowlas, of about
thirteen pence a yard, tied with white tape: the men had
gloves, half-a-crown each, and a quart of cider heated
with ginger; her servant-maid was mourner in chief, and
followed the corpse in a hood and scarf of the order above;
the minister (who had half-a-guinea and a pair of gloves)
and the coffin-maker led the way; and no other persons
were invited to the funeral. The procession began about
nine in the morning ; but not a tear was shed on the occa-
sion, as the peculiarity of the sight rather excited mirth
than grief. Though she was buried at nine, as above, six
persons attended with lighted flambeaux, and wore dowlas
hatbands, and were rewarded with thirteenpence halfpenny
each for their trouble. Mrs. Weekes’s funeral was agree-
able to her life, w'hich was a series of whim and incon-
sistency, and that the last effort of a singular vanity.”
A PAIR OF PORTRAITS.
Lately died, at her house in Canterbury, Mrs. Celestina
Collens, widow, aged 70. Although possessing an in-
come of £70 per annum, her habits of life were singu-
larly disgusting, her disposition and peculiarities so ex-
centric, that she may be truly said to have verified the
old adage, de gustibus nil disputandum; that is, there is
no disputing about tastes.
During many years her constant companions were from
sixteen to twenty fowls, whose ordure defiled as well her
bed and every article of her furniture, as the plate out of
which she ate; a favorite cock, whose age might be cal-
culated from his spurs, being three inches long, and an
equally favored rat, were for a length of time constant
attendants at her table.
Her predilection for vermin prevailed so much, that,
at her death, a nest of mice was found in her bed. The
house w'here she resided, besides the room in which she
vol. 1. f constantly
33
pall, and wore hoods and belts made of dowlas, of about
thirteen pence a yard, tied with white tape: the men had
gloves, half-a-crown each, and a quart of cider heated
with ginger; her servant-maid was mourner in chief, and
followed the corpse in a hood and scarf of the order above;
the minister (who had half-a-guinea and a pair of gloves)
and the coffin-maker led the way; and no other persons
were invited to the funeral. The procession began about
nine in the morning ; but not a tear was shed on the occa-
sion, as the peculiarity of the sight rather excited mirth
than grief. Though she was buried at nine, as above, six
persons attended with lighted flambeaux, and wore dowlas
hatbands, and were rewarded with thirteenpence halfpenny
each for their trouble. Mrs. Weekes’s funeral was agree-
able to her life, w'hich was a series of whim and incon-
sistency, and that the last effort of a singular vanity.”
A PAIR OF PORTRAITS.
Lately died, at her house in Canterbury, Mrs. Celestina
Collens, widow, aged 70. Although possessing an in-
come of £70 per annum, her habits of life were singu-
larly disgusting, her disposition and peculiarities so ex-
centric, that she may be truly said to have verified the
old adage, de gustibus nil disputandum; that is, there is
no disputing about tastes.
During many years her constant companions were from
sixteen to twenty fowls, whose ordure defiled as well her
bed and every article of her furniture, as the plate out of
which she ate; a favorite cock, whose age might be cal-
culated from his spurs, being three inches long, and an
equally favored rat, were for a length of time constant
attendants at her table.
Her predilection for vermin prevailed so much, that,
at her death, a nest of mice was found in her bed. The
house w'here she resided, besides the room in which she
vol. 1. f constantly