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horse's shoes。
We have made it a practice since； to take the Horse Guards in our daily
walk； and we find it is the custom of military young gentlemen to plant
themselves opposite the sentries； and contemplate them at leisure； in
periods varying from fifteen minutes to fifty； and averaging twenty…five。
We were much struck a day or two since； by the behaviour of a very
promising young butcher who （evincing an interest in the service； which
cannot be too strongly commanded or encouraged）； after a prolonged
inspection of the sentry； proceeded to handle his boots with great curiosity；
and as much composure and indifference as if the man were wax…work。
But the really military young gentleman is waiting all this time； and at
the very moment that an apology rises to our lips； he emerges from the
barrack gate （he is quartered in a garrison town）； and takes the way
towards the high street。 He wears his undress uniform； which somewhat
mars the glory of his outward man； but still how great； how grand； he is！
What a happy mixture of ease and ferocity in his gait and carriage； and
how lightly he carries that dreadful sword under his arm； making no more
ado about it than if it were a silk umbrella！ The lion is sleeping： only
think if an enemy were in sight； how soon he'd whip it out of the scabbard；
and what a terrible fellow he would be！
But he walks on； thinking of nothing less than blood and slaughter；
and now he comes in sight of three other military young gentlemen； arm…
in…arm； who are bearing down towards him； clanking their iron heels on
the pavement； and clashing their swords with a noise； which should cause
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all peaceful men to quail at heart。 They stop to talk。 See how the
flaxen…haired young gentleman with the weak legs … he who has his
pocket…handkerchief thrust into the breast of his coat…glares upon the
fainthearted civilians who linger to look upon his glory； how the next
young gentleman elevates his head in the air； and majestically places his
arms a…kimbo； while the third stands with his legs very wide apart； and
clasps his hands behind him。 Well may we inquire … not in familiar jest；
but in respectful earnest … if you call that nothing。 Oh！ if some
encroaching foreign power … the Emperor of Russia； for instance； or any of
those deep fellows； could only see those military young gentlemen as they
move on together towards the billiard…room over the way； wouldn't he
tremble a little！
And then； at the Theatre at night； when the performances are by
command of Colonel Fitz…Sordust and the officers of the garrison … what a
splendid sight it is！ How sternly the defenders of their country look
round the house as if in mute assurance to the audience； that they may
make themselves comfortable regarding any foreign invasion； for they （the
military young gentlemen） are keeping a sharp look…out； and are ready for
anything。 And what a contrast between them； and that stage…box full of
grey…headed officers with tokens of many battles about them； who have
nothing at all in common with the military young gentlemen； and who …
but for an old…fashioned kind of manly dignity in their looks and bearing …
might be common hard…working soldiers for anything they take the pains
to announce to the contrary！
Ah！ here is a family just come in who recognise the flaxen…headed
young gentleman； and the flaxen…headed young gentleman recognises
them too； only he doesn't care to show it just now。 Very well done indeed！
He talks louder to the little group of military young gentlemen who are
standing by him； and coughs to induce some ladies in the next box but one
to look round； in order that their faces may undergo the same ordeal of
criticism to which they have subjected； in not a wholly inaudible tone； the
majority of the female portion of the audience。 Oh！ a gentleman in the
same box looks round as if he were disposed to resent this as an
impertinence； and the flaxen…headed young gentleman sees his friends at
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once； and hurries away to them with the most charming cordiality。
Three young ladies； one young man； and the mamma of the party；
receive the military young gentleman with great warmth and politeness；
and in five minutes afterwards the military young gentleman； stimulated
by the mamma； introduces the two other military young gentlemen with
whom he was walking in the morning； who take their seats behind the
young ladies and commence conversation； whereat the mamma bestows a
triumphant bow upon a rival mamma； who has not succeeded in decoying
any military young gentlemen； and prepares to consider her visitors from
that moment three of the most elegant and superior young gentlemen in
the whole world。
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SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
THE POLITICAL YOUNG
GENTLEMAN
Once upon a time … NOT in the days when pigs drank wine； but in a
more recent period of our history … it was customary to banish politics
when ladies were present。 If this usage still prevailed； we should have
had no chapter for political young gentlemen； for ladies would have
neither known nor cared what kind of monster a political young gentleman
was。 But as this good custom in common with many others has 'gone
out；' and left no word when it is likely to be home again； as political young
ladies are by no means rare； and political young gentlemen the very
reverse of scarce； we are bound in the strict discharge of our most
responsible duty not to neglect this natural division of our subject。
If the political young gentleman be resident in a country town （and
there ARE political young gentlemen in country towns sometimes）； he is
wholly abs