The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 61: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

&4 TITE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. about in a confusion, that had been admirably well ; holders the effect of the Indicrous contrast ;—neither studied and purposely arranged. The,impression of the newness of every thing in the mansion was strengthened in the mind of Mr. Bubble- ton Styles at every pace which he had taken from the hall-door into the room where he now found himeelf. it appeared as if Mr. Podgson—or Mr. Podgson’s wife —or both, had endeavoured to the utmost of human power to crowd the apartments, the stair-cases, the landings, and, in fact, cvery nook and corner, with as many evidences of wealth as possible. I‘inc paintings by old masters, set in bran new glittering frames, were hung in the very worst lights, and without the least regard to their relative styles, colouring, or subjects. Fach room had two or three time-pieces in it; and as they were not in accordance with respect to the hour, Mr. Bubbleton Styles’s ideas of precision and punctu- ality received a severe shock when he heard ten o’clock proclaimed half-a-dozen different times during the first twenty minutes which elapsed after he first sct foot in the mansion. Ina word, the entire aspect of the house was a reflection of the vulgar, untasteful, and self- suflicient minds of the “stuck-up people” who, having grown suddenly rich, did not know how to render their dwelling elegant and comfortable without making it gaudy and ridiculously ostentatious in its appointments. Mr. Podgson was a short, stout, thick-sct man, with an enormous stomach, a very wide back, and little stumpy legs. His head seemed to be stuck on his shoulders without the intervening aid of any neck at all; and his features were cvarscly ugly, and totally inexpressive of even the slightest spark of intelligence. His tongue appeqred to be much too large for his mouth, his speech being remarkably disagreeable: In- decd, his free utterance seemed to be impeded as if hie were always sucking a Jarge lollipop, or lad an cnor- mous quid of tobacco stuck in his cheek. When he walked, it was with the most ungainly waddle that can possibly be conceived ; and his clothes, though no doubt made by a fashionable tailor, sate upon him just as if they had been thrown on with a pitchfork. Wad this man been invested with regal robes,—had he arrayed himself in the Tyrian purple which Rome's Iemperors were wont to wear,—he could not have looked otherwise than alow vulgarian, —which he was! We shall not pause for a moment to give any ac- count of the rise of Mr. Podgson from obscurity to that renown which the sudden acquisition of great wealth established for him. Having sprung from the people, he turned against the people when he became arichinan. THis property enablel him to purchase : borough; and the instant he found himself iu Parlia- ment, he joined the Protectionists—the bitter enenues of the popular cause! Had this man taken his place amongst the Liberals, we should not have remembered his physical ugliness and his immense vulgarity of manners: we should have admired and esteemed him. Dut he to associate with aristocrats,—to squeeze that squat, podgy fourm amongst the “exquisites” and the “ exclusives” of the West End,—to affect the most refined notions, and ape every thing fashionable,—for han todo all this Ohi! it is really too ridiculous—too ludicrous—too absurd to permit us tu heep our countenance when we think of it! Persons cannot help being naturally vulgar, any more than than they can help being ugly: but the vulgar should not thrust themselves into those scenes and spheres where they are certain to rtand ont in most ignoble prominency, thereby forcing on all be- should the ugly adopt such an awful swagger and assume an air of such insufferable self-complacency as to render themselves most disagreeably remarkable and conspicnous. Mr. Podgson had acquired his immense wealth by railway speculations; and the disgusting sycophants who invariably attach themselves to rich men with weak minds, had nonsensically dubbed him the I?ail- way Lions WUad they called him the Railway Elephant, in allusion to his unwieiay preportions—or the Ratlway Bear, in reference to his manners—or the Railway Donkey, in respect to his intelligence,—they would have been more faithful to truth. But the Railway Lion he was;—and it was now in the pre- | sence of this tremendous animal that Mr. Bubbleton Styles stood. Without rising from his chair, Mr. Podgson, M.P., waved his han with all the majesty of a stage- monarch; and as this gesticulation wa. intended to be | a fashionable—no, a dignified mode of desiring Mr. Bubbleton Styles to be scated, Mr. Bubbleton Styles seated himself accordingly. Mr. Podgson then stared very hard at his visitor; and this was the Railway Lion’s method of intimating that he was “all attention.” “T believe, sir,’ said Mr. Styles, in a very polite and courtcous manner—but without any thing like cringing servility,— I believe, sir, that you last night received a Ictter from Alderman Tripes——” “Oh! ah!” exclaimed Mr. Podgson, in his thick voice: “IT remember! My very particular and inti- mate friend, Mr. Alderman Tripes, assures me in his communication that you have a famous project on the | PP) tappy . Mr. Podgson meant fapis—but could not preciscly achicve the correct pronunciation, “And that project Ishall have much pleasure in submitting to you, sir,” added Mr. Styles, proceeding | to unfold the large roll of papers which he had brought | with him. “Well—I don’t mind—that is, to obleege you, Il | just look over them,” said Mr. Podgson, in an in- | different—careless way. “ But,” he added, glancing | at the elegant watch which he drew with affected | negligence from his waistcoat pockets “I’ve got an appointment at a quarter to cleyen—and T must be punctual to the rendy-woo.” Mr. Styles assured the great man that he would not | detain him a moment beyond the time named for the | rendes-voue ; and, spreading his plans and maps upon | the table, the small speculator began to explain his + objects and views to the large capitalist. | “Who's the engineer?” enquired the latter: then, | looking at the corner of the plan, and pereciving the | name, he cried, “Oh! Dummerley—ch? Well—he’s a gvod man—a very good man! J was talking to : Lord Noodleton the other day about him—Lord Noo- t dleton and me are intimate friends, you know—very intiniate——” “ Tis lurdship has reason to bo proud of your friend- ship, sir,” observed Mr. Styles, adroitly availing him- self of the opportunity to pay a compliment. “Hem! well—Noodleton coves scem grateful,’ said the Railway Lion, glancing cumplacently at one of his bvots. “But, about this spec of your’s, Mr. Styles? Shall you have a good list of Provisional Committee?” © First-rate, sir—especially if you will condescend ¢ tu head at,” returned the small speculator with a bow to the great one. EConnicloooks (SO)