THE LOUNGER, THE DAWDLER, AND THE DANGLER.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 209, 29 January 1866, Page 3

THE LOUNGER, THE DAWDLER, AND THE DANGLER.

(From London Society.) The Lounger is a, professional lounger. Wherever he may be he loungeth. He hath no great amount of conversation, albeit he is an excellent listener. In the park he preferreth leaning against or lolling over the railings to a seat in the most comfortable chair. Not being a flirt himself, he wondereth much at the activity of men who indulge in this thankless occupation. He has always lounged — as a boy, as a youth, as a man. Haply he hath lounged in long clothes. He can ride, but doeth it not. He can row, but doth not. He hath ability to play at several games, yet doth he not employ it. How he hath become acquainted with any of these accomplishments affordeth a puzzle to many. He affecteth small canes with elegant handles, from which, while leaning against the rails, he apparently deriveth sustenance by suction. The canes must be inexhaustible sugarcanes. Silver, gold, or ivory, he sucketh, and is therewith content. May be he hath never forgotten the coral of his infancy. Peradventure his mind may still be in the coral and bells period ? In one respect let us hope it is so. Nothing particular distracteth the lounger's attention from everything generally. Streams of carriages, various colors, noise and bustle, do not bewilder him. He consorteth. with others of his own kidney, yet speaketli not to them when at the rails, where each loungeth side by side in silent sympathy. He recognizes some one in a brougham with the feeblest intimation. He troubleth not himself with remembering names, being satisfied that the face he hath saluted is not altogether unknown to him. He changeth the form of his lounging occasionally, leaning on one or other arm alternately ; but he hath an ability for lounging a couple of hours at a time, yet showeth he not any signs of weariness. This, likewise, repeateth he every day during the season, and every season during his life, as long as there existeth a park, a rail, and a fashion of lounging. . The Dawdler is a man of conversation. He taketh you by the button-hole, and telleth you a good thing, He seldom trieijh. the rails, but expendeth a goodly stor§ of halfpence qb the ohair proprieto?,

Like noble landed gentry, he hath, for the time being, a fine seat in a splendid park. He starteth for the park in the afternoon, intending, he saith, to stop there five minutes. He remaineth there two hours. He is always leaving ; yet doth he never depart, until the movement becotneth general. He never hath any particular engagement or employment, and accepteth every invitation offered him. The Dawdler's day passeth away and is gone, before he hath made up his mind definitey upon any one course of action. Alas ! the Dawdler's life passeth away, and is gone for ever, before he hath found a use for his existence. Albeit, the Dawdler is a harmless creature ; if to do nothing is harmless. The Dawdler in flirtation corner is of use to the young couples, seeing that he inclineth to conversation with the mamma and the chaperon. This is the use of the Dawdler in flirtation corner. The Dangler is always young. He is consumed by a secret passion for some fair one in a carriage. His friends speak to her, he boweth and standeth aloof. He walketh with an acquaintance, who talketh to other acquaintances, whom the Dangler knoweth not. He delighteth to appear as one of a little coterie gathered around beauty or around celebrity, male or female. He weareth out a many brims in salutations. Being encouraged he can flirt, but soon subsideth into his normal dangling. It contenteth him to walk in the gutter while his companions occupy the pavement. As a third person in flirtation corner, where " two is company," he hath not his equal. The Dawdler and Lounger may smoke ; the Dangler smoketh not.