按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
occasion that the Lord Mayor's fool liked everything that was good。
You will agree with me； I have no doubt； that if this
discriminating jester had existed at the present time he could not
fail to have liked his master very much； seeing that so good a Lord
Mayor is very rarely to be found； and that a better Lord Mayor
could not possibly be。
You have already divined； gentlemen； that I am about to propose to
you to drink the health of the right honourable gentleman in the
chair。 As one of the Trustees of the General Theatrical Fund； I
beg officially to tender him my best thanks for lending the very
powerful aid of his presence； his influence； and his personal
character to this very deserving Institution。 As his private
friends we ventured to urge upon him to do us this gracious act；
and I beg to assure you that the perfect simplicity； modesty；
cordiality； and frankness with which he assented； enhanced the gift
one thousand fold。 I think it must also be very agreeable to a
company like this to know that the President of the night is not
ceremoniously pretending； 〃positively for this night only；〃 to have
an interest in the drama； but that he has an unusual and thorough
acquaintance with it； and that he has a living and discerning
knowledge of the merits of the great old actors。 It is very
pleasant to me to remember that the Lord Mayor and I once beguiled
the tedium of a journey by exchanging our experiences upon this
subject。 I rather prided myself on being something of an old
stager； but I found the Lord Mayor so thoroughly up in all the
stock pieces； and so knowing and yet so fresh about the merits of
those who are most and best identified with them； that I readily
recognised in him what would be called in fistic language； a very
ugly customer … one； I assure you； by no means to be settled by any
novice not in thorough good theatrical training。
Gentlemen； we have all known from our earliest infancy that when
the giants in Guildhall hear the clock strike one； they come down
to dinner。 Similarly； when the City of London shall hear but one
single word in just disparagement of its present Lord Mayor；
whether as its enlightened chief magistrate； or as one of its
merchants； or as one of its true gentlemen； he will then descend
from the high personal place which he holds in the general honour
and esteem。 Until then he will remain upon his pedestal； and my
private opinion； between ourselves； is that the giants will come
down long before him。
Gentlemen； in conclusion； I would remark that when the Lord Mayor
made his truly remarkable； and truly manly； and unaffected speech；
I could not but be struck by the odd reversal of the usual
circumstances at the Mansion House； which he presented to our view；
for whereas it is a very common thing for persons to be brought
tremblingly before the Lord Mayor； the Lord Mayor presented himself
as being brought tremblingly before us。 I hope that the result may
hold still further； for whereas it is a common thing for the Lord
Mayor to say to a repentant criminal who does not seem to have much
harm in him； 〃let me never see you here again；〃 so I would propose
that we all with one accord say to the Lord Mayor； 〃Let us by all
means see you here again on the first opportunity。〃 Gentlemen； I
beg to propose to you to drink； with all the honours； 〃The health
of the right hon。 the Lord Mayor。〃
SPEECH： LONDON； MAY 7； 1866。
＇The Members of the Metropolitan Rowing Clubs dining together at
the London Tavern； on the above date； Mr。 Dickens； as President of
the Nautilus Rowing Club； occupied the chair。 The Speech that
follows was made in proposing 〃Prosperity to the Rowing Clubs of
London。〃 Mr。 Dickens said that：…＇
HE could not avoid the remembrance of what very poor things the
amateur rowing clubs on the Thames were in the early days of his
noviciate； not to mention the difference in the build of the boats。
He could not get on in the beginning without being a pupil under an
anomalous creature called a 〃fireman waterman；〃 who wore an
eminently tall hat； and a perfectly unaccountable uniform； of which
it might be said that if it was less adapted for one thing than
another； that thing was fire。 He recollected that this gentleman
had on some former day won a King's prize wherry； and they used to
go about in this accursed wherry； he and a partner； doing all the
hard work； while the fireman drank all the beer。 The river was
very much clearer； freer； and cleaner in those days than these； but
he was persuaded that this philosophical old boatman could no more
have dreamt of seeing the spectacle which had taken place on
Saturday （the procession of the boats of the Metropolitan Amateur
Rowing Clubs）； or of seeing these clubs matched for skill and
speed； than he （the Chairman） should dare to announce through the
usual authentic channels that he was to be heard of at the bar
below； and that he was perfectly prepared to accommodate Mr。 James
Mace if he meant business。 Nevertheless； he could recollect that
he had turned out for a spurt a few years ago on the River Thames
with an occasional Secretary； who should be nameless； and some
other Eton boys； and that he could hold his own against them。 More
recently still； the last time that he rowed down from Oxford he was
supposed to cover himself with honour； though he must admit that he
found the 〃locks〃 so picturesque as to require much examination for
the discovery of their beauty。 But what he wanted to say was this；
that though his 〃fireman waterman〃 was one of the greatest humbugs
that ever existed； he yet taught him what an honest； healthy； manly
sport this was。 Their waterman would bid them pull away； and
assure them that they were certain of winning in some race。 And
here he would remark that aquatic sports never entailed a moment's
cruelty； or a moment's pain； upon any living creature。 Rowing men
pursued recreation under circumstances which braced their muscles；
and cleared the cobwebs from their minds。 He assured them that he
regarded such clubs as these as a 〃national blessing。〃 They owed；
it was true； a vast deal to steam power … as was sometimes proved
at matches on the Thames … but； at the same time； they were greatly
indebted to all that tended to keep up a healthy； manly tone。 He
understood that there had been a committee selected for the purpose
of arranging a great amateur regatta； which was to take place off
Putney in the course of the season that was just begun。 He could
not abstain from availing himself of this occasion to express a
hope that the committee would successfully carry on its labours to
a triumphant result； and that they should see upon the Thames； in
the course of this summer； such a brilliant sight as had never been
seen there before。 To secure this there must be some hard work；
skilful combinations； and rather large subscriptions。 But although
the aggregate result must be g