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and Gentry The Royal Family are the patrons of Jarley. When she had exhibited these leviathans of public announcement to the astonished child, she brought forth specimens of the lesser fry in the shape of hand-bills, some of which were couched in the form of parodies on popular melodies, as Believe me if all Jarleys wax-work so rare I saw thy show in youthful prime Over the water to Jarley; while, to consult all tastes, others were composed with a view to the lighter and more facetious spirits, as a parody on the favourite air of If I had a donkey, beginning If I knowd a donkey wot wouldnt go To see MRS JARLEYS wax-work show Do you think Id acknowledge him? Oh no no! Then run to Jarleys besides several compositions in prose, purporting to be dialogues between the Emperor of China and an oyster, or the Archbishop of Canterbury and a Dissenter on the subject of church-rates, but all having the same moral, namely, that the reader must make haste to Jarleys, and that children and servants were admitted at half-price. When she had brought all these testimonials of her important position in society to bear upon her young companion, Mrs Jarley rolled them up, and having put them carefully away, sat down again, and looked at the child in triumph. Never go into the company of a filthy Punch any more, said Mrs Jarley, after this. I never saw any wax-work, maam, said Nell. Is it funnier than Punch? Funnier! said Mrs Jarley in a shrill voice. It is not funny at all. Oh! said Nell, with all possible humility. It isnt funny at all, repeated Mrs Jarley. Its calm and whats that word again critical? no classical, thats it its calm and classical. No low beatings and knockings about, no jokings and squeakings like your precious Punches, but always the same, with a constantly unchanging air of coldness and gentility; and so like life, that if wax-work only spoke and walked about, youd hardly know the difference. I wont go so far as to say, that, as it is, Ive seen wax-work quite like life, but Ive certainly seen some life that was exactly like wax-work. Is it here, maam? asked Nell, whose curiosity was awakened by this description. Is what here, child? The wax-work, maam. Why, bless you, child, what are you thinking of? How could such a collection be here, where you see everything except the inside of one little cupboard and a few boxes? Its gone on in the other wans to the assembly-rooms, and there itll be exhibited the day after tomorrow. You are going to the same town, and youll see it I dare say. Its natural to expect that youll see it, and Ive no doubt you will. I suppose you couldnt stop away if you was to try ever so much. I shall not be in the town, I think, maam, said the child. Not there! cried Mrs Jarley. Then where will you be? I I dont quite know. I am not certain. |
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