DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16516#0229
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
225
far off", and they all entered, one after another, like policemen
stamping on the floor in such regular time, as they marched to the
THE MEDICAL STUDENTS end of the room, and with such energy, that they frightened all the
" " ^ " other customers, and caused one gentleman of delicate fibre, to pour
{New Series.) his pint of porter into his hat, whilst he looked another way after our
friends.
CRftPTER IV.-OF THE MANNER. IN WHICH JACK RANDALL AND
UK, SIMPSON" BRIGGS DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN PUBLIC.
One fine afternoon, towards the close of the session, there was a
notice put up on the board where the public information was gene-
Tally posted, stating that Mr. Poddy, the anatomical lecturer, could not
meet his class that day at two o'clock as usual. The reason assigned for
his absence was an important post-mortem examination, some little
distance out of town ; and this was subsequently found to be correct,
the subject in question being a very fine turkey at a friend's house,
with an accompanying piece of more minute dissection in the shape of a
saddle of mutton. The question of what they should do immediately The dinner passed off as most eating-house dinners do, very hastily ;
rose among the students. Some of them, who were expecting their > and the reckoning being settled, they rose to depart. Previous to
examination shortly, went home to read ; but the majority, including j this, however, Jack Randall emptied the salt-cellar into the decanter
Jack Randall and Briggs, thought it best to stop and indulge in a j of Preissnitz as he called it; whilst Briggs, who was getting rather
little harmony and half-and-half in the dissecting-room. People of jocose, and whose hand very much resembled a shoulder of mutton
FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE.
delicate nerves or fine feelings might perhaps imagine that a more
fitting locality might be chosen for conviviality than the spot just
mentioned, but as medical students cannot in general afford very fine
feelings, and are only conscious of the existence of nerves in the
extremities that come under their hands for dissection, they are not
very particular respecting the scene of their revels. Accordingly,
our friends were in high glee before a quarter of an hour had elapsed.
They had drawn a table towards the fire, round which they were
assembled, the article of furniture being literally a festive board, and
a goodly circle they formed. Jack Randall was, of course, in the
chair, or rather on the highest stool, and was entertaining the com-
pany with the account of a row he once got into at Epsom races,
where he fought four thimble-rig men at once, and was obliged to
sleep all night at some particular part of the Warren, in consequence
of being too much overcome by poverty and brandy-and-water to get
back to town. At the same time he illustrated the respective loca-
lities connected with the event, by drawing plans on the table in
half-and-half with his finger. Mr. Newcome, who had now arrived
-at his third session, was seated on one side of the fireplace, using a
fire-shovel to cook some " brown bait," as Randall termed a bundle
of sprats which lay on the mantel-piece. Mr. Beans, a man from the
country, next told a story, instead of singing, about some adventures
he had when he was an apprentice, which nobody could recollect
when he had finished, but which, nevertheless, Mr. Beans took great
delight in narrating ; quite unconscious that, during the recital, Jack
Randall was filling the pocket of his apron with sawdust, cinders,
and all the heads and tails of sprats that he could collect. Then
after much pressing, Mr. Simpson Briggs indulged the company in
the exhibition of various artful problems and keen puzzles, with
short bits of tobacco pipe; and concluded by singing a song—a
crime of which he was only guilty after the second pint—involving
many curious speculations on the respective comforts enjoyed by the
Pope and Sultan ; and concluding with the affirmation that he would
sooner be himself—Mr. Simpson Briggs—than either of them. Mr.
Newcome applauded the performance, by rattling the poker between
the bars of the grate ; and Mr. Beans, who was getting sentimental
at the last verse, contented himself with marking the time, in grace-
ful measure, with hi.' pipe ; whilst he threw a glance of mingled
interest and affection at a crumb of Abernethy biscuit that lay on the
table.
As the contents of the pewters disappeared, the mirth and noise
gradually increased. The choruses, which had hitherto been sung
in time and tune, grew louder and more prolonged, until every one
joined in at the top of his voice, with any particular air or words that
-came uppermost. Jack Randall took upon himself to conduct the
orchestra, which he did a la Jullien, with much satisfaction to himself,
using a humerus as a baton ; and Briggs kept up a pleasing accompa-
niment by rattling a vertebra and a penny-piece in a quart pot. At
last, they kicked up such a tremendous riot, that the lecturer on the
Practice .of Physic, who had been holding forth to a class of five, in
the theatre, since three o'clock, sent in word by the porter, to say,
that if the gentlemen did not.immediately vacate the dissecting-room,
and either go home, or come in to his lecture, he would report the
whole of them to the Board of Governors. Whereupon, choosing
the least of two evils, the majority rose to go home, and Jack
Randall and Briggs. feeling somewhat inclined to feed, began to think
"vbout dinner, and started for the eating-house they usually patronised,
<a company with Beans and Newcome, The restaurateui-'s was not
cut into five strips, squeezed the tops of all the pewter pots together,
having first filled them with potato-skins.
Beans and Newcome here left them, for they were working for the
anatomical prize, and had each invested a shilling in the purchase of
half a pound of coffee, to keep them awake whilst they made out the
diagram they had copied at lecture—a series of elaborate drawings,
which their landlady presumed to be puzzles, or plans for getting
into the Mazes at Hampton Court and Rosherville Gardens. Jack
Randall and Briggs therefore were left to themselves, and not feeling
much inclined to go home, agreed to wander about for any amuse-
ment chance might turn up. At last they got into Clare Market, and
this refined quarter of the town offered them no end of subjects for
their temporary drolleries ; as they indulged in unmitigated chaff
with the keepers of the stalls that bordered the pavement; and who
had illuminated their wares with tallow candles sheltered in paper
bags, that cast a mellow and subdued light over the gasping flounders,
consumptive garden-stuff; sleepy pears ; and lucifers, whelks, straps,
apples, and periwinkles, that are the staple commodities of the district.
Jack Randall asked every policeman he met if he was at Water-
loo, and Mr. Briggs inquired where he bought his oilskin cape,
because he wished one like it; with other pleasant outpourings of
great minds giving way to light relaxation from the graver duties of
the accident-wards, and the dissecting-rooms. •
" I'd like to looshe some monies vid you," said a son of Israel, as
they passed his magazine of second-hand clothes.
Jack Randall immediately offered, with extreme politeness, to part
with the paper lining of his hat upon very advantageous terms.
" I'll be happy to wait upon you at homesh, if you've got clothes to
part vid,"
" Oh ! I've got lots," replied Randall, " when can you come ?'
" Any vensh," was the reply.
Whereupon Jack wrote down the address of Mr. Poddy, the Pro-
fessor of Anatomy, and told the Jew to go there the next morning,
before ten. They then walked on towards Drury Lane, when they were
accosted by another barker at the door of a similar establishment,
as follows :—
" Any things to shell ?"
" Do you want a shirt 1" asked Briggs.
" I should think you did," returned the Israelite.
"You've got it now," said Randall, laughing; "that was a thorough
sell."
" I shan't chaff the peoplesh any more," observed Briggs ; « but he
nad evidently been asked the same question before, from the readiness
of his reply."
They entered Drury Lane, and were immediately besetby the people
with play-bills, from each of whom Jack Randall took a bill with a
low bow, and carried it in his hand some little distance, until the
vender demanded payment; when he directly returned it, begging
their pardon for the mistake, hut saying that he thought, from their
pressing solicitations, he was doing them a kindness in taking one.
" Did you ever go to a concert, Simmy f inquired Jack.
" Oh, yes," returned his friend ; " very, frequently : at the Hanover
Square Rooms, and also at the Horns, at Kennington."
*' Oh, you mean the ten-and-sixpenny toucher," said Randall.
" To be sure ; and don't you V
" Oh no, my man. I allude to the penny melody for the million, a?
a musical tavern."
" I have never had that pleasure-/5
225
far off", and they all entered, one after another, like policemen
stamping on the floor in such regular time, as they marched to the
THE MEDICAL STUDENTS end of the room, and with such energy, that they frightened all the
" " ^ " other customers, and caused one gentleman of delicate fibre, to pour
{New Series.) his pint of porter into his hat, whilst he looked another way after our
friends.
CRftPTER IV.-OF THE MANNER. IN WHICH JACK RANDALL AND
UK, SIMPSON" BRIGGS DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN PUBLIC.
One fine afternoon, towards the close of the session, there was a
notice put up on the board where the public information was gene-
Tally posted, stating that Mr. Poddy, the anatomical lecturer, could not
meet his class that day at two o'clock as usual. The reason assigned for
his absence was an important post-mortem examination, some little
distance out of town ; and this was subsequently found to be correct,
the subject in question being a very fine turkey at a friend's house,
with an accompanying piece of more minute dissection in the shape of a
saddle of mutton. The question of what they should do immediately The dinner passed off as most eating-house dinners do, very hastily ;
rose among the students. Some of them, who were expecting their > and the reckoning being settled, they rose to depart. Previous to
examination shortly, went home to read ; but the majority, including j this, however, Jack Randall emptied the salt-cellar into the decanter
Jack Randall and Briggs, thought it best to stop and indulge in a j of Preissnitz as he called it; whilst Briggs, who was getting rather
little harmony and half-and-half in the dissecting-room. People of jocose, and whose hand very much resembled a shoulder of mutton
FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE.
delicate nerves or fine feelings might perhaps imagine that a more
fitting locality might be chosen for conviviality than the spot just
mentioned, but as medical students cannot in general afford very fine
feelings, and are only conscious of the existence of nerves in the
extremities that come under their hands for dissection, they are not
very particular respecting the scene of their revels. Accordingly,
our friends were in high glee before a quarter of an hour had elapsed.
They had drawn a table towards the fire, round which they were
assembled, the article of furniture being literally a festive board, and
a goodly circle they formed. Jack Randall was, of course, in the
chair, or rather on the highest stool, and was entertaining the com-
pany with the account of a row he once got into at Epsom races,
where he fought four thimble-rig men at once, and was obliged to
sleep all night at some particular part of the Warren, in consequence
of being too much overcome by poverty and brandy-and-water to get
back to town. At the same time he illustrated the respective loca-
lities connected with the event, by drawing plans on the table in
half-and-half with his finger. Mr. Newcome, who had now arrived
-at his third session, was seated on one side of the fireplace, using a
fire-shovel to cook some " brown bait," as Randall termed a bundle
of sprats which lay on the mantel-piece. Mr. Beans, a man from the
country, next told a story, instead of singing, about some adventures
he had when he was an apprentice, which nobody could recollect
when he had finished, but which, nevertheless, Mr. Beans took great
delight in narrating ; quite unconscious that, during the recital, Jack
Randall was filling the pocket of his apron with sawdust, cinders,
and all the heads and tails of sprats that he could collect. Then
after much pressing, Mr. Simpson Briggs indulged the company in
the exhibition of various artful problems and keen puzzles, with
short bits of tobacco pipe; and concluded by singing a song—a
crime of which he was only guilty after the second pint—involving
many curious speculations on the respective comforts enjoyed by the
Pope and Sultan ; and concluding with the affirmation that he would
sooner be himself—Mr. Simpson Briggs—than either of them. Mr.
Newcome applauded the performance, by rattling the poker between
the bars of the grate ; and Mr. Beans, who was getting sentimental
at the last verse, contented himself with marking the time, in grace-
ful measure, with hi.' pipe ; whilst he threw a glance of mingled
interest and affection at a crumb of Abernethy biscuit that lay on the
table.
As the contents of the pewters disappeared, the mirth and noise
gradually increased. The choruses, which had hitherto been sung
in time and tune, grew louder and more prolonged, until every one
joined in at the top of his voice, with any particular air or words that
-came uppermost. Jack Randall took upon himself to conduct the
orchestra, which he did a la Jullien, with much satisfaction to himself,
using a humerus as a baton ; and Briggs kept up a pleasing accompa-
niment by rattling a vertebra and a penny-piece in a quart pot. At
last, they kicked up such a tremendous riot, that the lecturer on the
Practice .of Physic, who had been holding forth to a class of five, in
the theatre, since three o'clock, sent in word by the porter, to say,
that if the gentlemen did not.immediately vacate the dissecting-room,
and either go home, or come in to his lecture, he would report the
whole of them to the Board of Governors. Whereupon, choosing
the least of two evils, the majority rose to go home, and Jack
Randall and Briggs. feeling somewhat inclined to feed, began to think
"vbout dinner, and started for the eating-house they usually patronised,
<a company with Beans and Newcome, The restaurateui-'s was not
cut into five strips, squeezed the tops of all the pewter pots together,
having first filled them with potato-skins.
Beans and Newcome here left them, for they were working for the
anatomical prize, and had each invested a shilling in the purchase of
half a pound of coffee, to keep them awake whilst they made out the
diagram they had copied at lecture—a series of elaborate drawings,
which their landlady presumed to be puzzles, or plans for getting
into the Mazes at Hampton Court and Rosherville Gardens. Jack
Randall and Briggs therefore were left to themselves, and not feeling
much inclined to go home, agreed to wander about for any amuse-
ment chance might turn up. At last they got into Clare Market, and
this refined quarter of the town offered them no end of subjects for
their temporary drolleries ; as they indulged in unmitigated chaff
with the keepers of the stalls that bordered the pavement; and who
had illuminated their wares with tallow candles sheltered in paper
bags, that cast a mellow and subdued light over the gasping flounders,
consumptive garden-stuff; sleepy pears ; and lucifers, whelks, straps,
apples, and periwinkles, that are the staple commodities of the district.
Jack Randall asked every policeman he met if he was at Water-
loo, and Mr. Briggs inquired where he bought his oilskin cape,
because he wished one like it; with other pleasant outpourings of
great minds giving way to light relaxation from the graver duties of
the accident-wards, and the dissecting-rooms. •
" I'd like to looshe some monies vid you," said a son of Israel, as
they passed his magazine of second-hand clothes.
Jack Randall immediately offered, with extreme politeness, to part
with the paper lining of his hat upon very advantageous terms.
" I'll be happy to wait upon you at homesh, if you've got clothes to
part vid,"
" Oh ! I've got lots," replied Randall, " when can you come ?'
" Any vensh," was the reply.
Whereupon Jack wrote down the address of Mr. Poddy, the Pro-
fessor of Anatomy, and told the Jew to go there the next morning,
before ten. They then walked on towards Drury Lane, when they were
accosted by another barker at the door of a similar establishment,
as follows :—
" Any things to shell ?"
" Do you want a shirt 1" asked Briggs.
" I should think you did," returned the Israelite.
"You've got it now," said Randall, laughing; "that was a thorough
sell."
" I shan't chaff the peoplesh any more," observed Briggs ; « but he
nad evidently been asked the same question before, from the readiness
of his reply."
They entered Drury Lane, and were immediately besetby the people
with play-bills, from each of whom Jack Randall took a bill with a
low bow, and carried it in his hand some little distance, until the
vender demanded payment; when he directly returned it, begging
their pardon for the mistake, hut saying that he thought, from their
pressing solicitations, he was doing them a kindness in taking one.
" Did you ever go to a concert, Simmy f inquired Jack.
" Oh, yes," returned his friend ; " very, frequently : at the Hanover
Square Rooms, and also at the Horns, at Kennington."
*' Oh, you mean the ten-and-sixpenny toucher," said Randall.
" To be sure ; and don't you V
" Oh no, my man. I allude to the penny melody for the million, a?
a musical tavern."
" I have never had that pleasure-/5