RECREATIONS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 146, 15 December 1871, Page 6

RECREATIONS.

Xo. y.— A CIIAPTRB OP BLUNDEhIs JJJD ''"mistakes. '

(Continued from, our last.)

ABSENCE OP MIND; Samuel Itogers used to tel! a comical incident about Topham Beaurlerk, Johnson's friend. (Jhe day he had a party coming to dinner, and, just before their arrival, he went up stairs to change his dress, what h© ivas about, he pulled off all his clothes and went to bed. A. servant, who X'ame to tell hun that his quests were waiting for him, found him fast asleep. It is difficult to imagine any one making a similar mistake in connection with his marriage ; yet this occurred in the case of John Kemble the tragedian.

After the marriage ceremony and the dinner were over he had to go to, the theatre to play, and got so completely absorbed in his usual work that he wholly forgot about his marriage, and went straight from the 'theatre to his old bachelor's rooms.

His friends in the meantime, who had been waiting at his new home till he should return, that they might ; have a parting glass and wish him all happiness, were astonished when ten came but no Kemble; eleven and twelve, but still no Kemble.

Three of them went off to the theatre; but no, Kemble had been gone froia that since nine.

" Where did he go ?" " loathe Temp e; that was the order he gave the hackman."

A way they went to his rooms at' the Temple, but had to knock five or six times without an answer ; till at last a window was opened and Kemble, looking out with hi* nightcap on, cried—- " Who is there ?"

" W'hy» kemble, in the world are you doing here ? We've been expecting you in D Street these three hours, and the bride is distracted."

"The bride? the bride? to be sure. Bless me, yes ; I had forgotten it." He had been in bed for two hours.

• Stothard the painter, on his marriage, showed similar obliviousness, as also did Porson.

The story is rold of a clergyman who, walking ia the country one day, fell into, thought. He was so accustomed to ride that, when he found himself at a toll, he stopped and shouted to the roan—- " Hero ! what's to pay ?" f * Pay for what ?" asked the man. " For my horse." " What horse ? There's no horsoi sir!" " Bless me!" exclaimed the clergyman, looking down between his legs, "I thought I was on horseback!" r Syduey Smith was not in general ab-sent-minded, but he says that once, when calling on a friend in London, and being asked by the servant, " Who shall I say has called ?" he could not tor the life of him recollect his own name, and stared in blank astonishment at the man for come time before it came back to him.

He said that Lord Dudley was one of the most absent men he ever met in society. One day his lordship asked him up to dinner to meet hi Keif! "'Dine with me'to-day, and I will get Sydney Smith to meet you." The ivit acknowledged the temptation, but'said he had engaged to meet himself elsewhere. The first Lord Lyttelton was aho very absent, It is declared of him that when he fell into the river by the upsetting of a boat at Hay ley, " he sank twice before he recollected that he could swim."