A STORY OF THACKERAY.

Evening Star, Issue 3054, 2 December 1872, Page 3

A STORY OF THACKERAY.

I he monthly gossip in the June number of LpincoW, s Magazine, contains this story atit Thackeray. Years ago, when Thacker? was delivering his lectures of “The Gffges,” and the “English Wits and Hnorists,” to large audiences in a Southern cit be asked a distinguished literary man wit chance of success Ihere would be in a cerin other city not many miles away. “ leally do *’t know, Mr Thackeray,” was the.ply. “ I never succeeded there. But I ai nobody, and you are a great gun ; it seen to me you ought to succeed anywhere. Stil I cannot conscientiously advise you to mahthe attempt ; you might possibly fail, andty the blame on me.” After some reflectn, he asked, “ Perhaps if you were to maka special lecture, compounded of the beat id most diverting parts of two or more of ycr series, you might draw a tolerably good ouse. But I will not guarantee anything Thackeray thought the matter over, accepd the suggestion, made up the compouncecture, advertised, “billed the town,” and wit over. On his return his friend met him athe cars, and after the usual greeting, said, Well, sir, how did you make out?” “Oh said Thackeray, merrily, “I have been laying the mountebank for Gd.” “WE do you mean by that?” “The nightyou know, was a wretched one, the auclicie was thin, not above fifty or sixty persoi, and a more quiet and absolutely sober it 1 never attempted ti entertain. I did rf best, but so profound was their reaper-thoir awe, I may say—of ma, that not amrmur of applause, nob a ghost of a stnileescaped them. Solemnly, sincerely, pious’ they stared at me. Ido believe they lought 1 was preaching a funeral sermon. At the close of the lecture I fully expect? a committee to come forward and requit a copy of my obituary on the Georges for indication in the morning papers, and I felt isappointed that tho doorkeeper did not op me as I went out to put crape on u r arm and a weeper on my hat. It was;ruly a solemn and refreshing season. The next morning, after paying mydvertising hills and hotel charges, I four that I bad cleared enough to pay ray retm fare to this place and live dollars over. Corratulating mysrlf on this fact, I strode jubmtly down to the station, and was in actf stepping on the train, when I felt mySiKouched on the back. Turning around, I bield a small man with tho aspect of a turkey, who, in no complimentary terms, mae inquiry, ‘ Ain’t you a man by the na» of Thackeray ! ’ * That is ray name, sir ‘ Well, didn’t you give me a show last nqt ?’ ‘ Why, yes, I think it was decidedly a show.’” ‘Well, thar’s a law in this tou that any man that gives a show has got to ay five dollars license for a-givin’ of the sEv, and you didn’t pay no license ; and I’i the sargent of this town, and here’s the hi, and you’ve gob to pay it before you kin g? to git in them keers. ’ This was too good. I landed the lierce little sergeant the five dlars, paid my railroad fare out of my own pjket, ami so,” concluded Thackery with a jiy laugh, “ I played the mountebank for G, and upon my honor I enjoyed it.”