282 " HE WAS PERFUMED LIKE A MILLINER." 



in such articles ; for if he fancies they give him that 

 of a gentleman, he most wofully deceives himself. It 

 draws on him the ridicule of those who merely abstain 

 from expressing their disgust at the imperfect and 

 impertinent attempt at imitation, from the feeling 

 that the noticing his dress would be a matter of su- 

 pererogation, the immeasurable distance between them 

 being such as to render it of no importance. The 

 dealer, however, who has sense enough by a proper 

 appearance, a straightforward but respectful manner, 

 to show he is willing to pay a proper respect to his 

 superiors, will always command that respect from 

 them that is due to every man whose conduct deserves 

 it, be his situation what it may. Mat Milton was not, 

 God knows, ever very courteous in his manners ; but 

 gentlemen do not want politeness in a horse-dealer, 

 they only ask civility. 



An attempt at politeness from a tradesman is im- 

 pertinence : he might as well take a lady's hand to 

 help her to her carriage. I can mention a glorious 

 bit of impertinence that took place a few weeks since 

 on the part of one of our 1844 dealers. A gentleman 

 went into his yard : the mille-fleurs-sceutGd herma- 

 phrodite gentleman-dealer was arranging his well- 

 oiled curls at the moment, (quite mauvais ton of his 

 customer not to wait till he had completed the interest- 

 ing occupation,) though he had gone through this cere- 

 mony every hour. Instead of showing his stables and 

 horses, this puppy turned on his heels, and addressing 



his foreman, said, " Mr. ," (mind the Mister!) 



" this gentleman wants to look at a horse ! " To make 

 any remarks on his conduct to such a man would be 

 quite useless : he would turn a deaf ear to all remon- 

 strance. I in no shape mean to say that a horse- 



