THE SIX OF SPADES. 1G7 



CHAPTEK X. 



MR. EVANS ON SHOWS AND SHOWING.* 



MR. CHAIRMAN and gents all, this is the only meeting 

 of the Six of Spades which I don't go to quite so 

 cheerfully as a wasp to a ripe apricot. You see, I'm 

 hardly much more of a scholar than the chap as only 

 went to school one Tuesday, and master was absent 

 a-measuring land ; and when I've got to speak to 

 them as has had good eddication, I feel about as 

 comfortable as a tomtit a-cherupping to a lot of 

 nightingales. Howsomever, I must take my part, 

 and if you'll excuse mistakes and plain speaking, I 

 think you'll find me there or thereabouts in facts ; 

 for I've been concerned with flower-shows best part 

 of my time, and after all, as I've heard my father 

 say, an ounce of experience will win more prizes than 

 two stone and a half of grammar. 



Consequently, and by your leave, Mr. Chairman 

 and gents all, I will make a few observations, first, 

 on the best way of getting up and managing a flower- 

 show; and, secondly, on showing plants, and flowers, 

 and cetrers. 



Fine folks, as comes a-yawniug and a-drawling, 

 and a- sniffing and a-sneering, into a flower-show, and 

 as ups with an eyeglass to look at a plant, just under 



* I have transcribed Mr. Evans's MS. verbatim, but only 

 literatim when his peculiar views in etymology, chiefly of a 

 phonetic character, seemed more specially to illustrate the 

 manner and the man. 



