" TO MAKE A WASH WOULD HARDLY STEW A CHILD." 441 



vants generally ; and when it has been applied to a 

 certain grade of menials, whether it arose from the 

 affectation of some one who wished it to be thought 

 he never let anything short of a gentleman " come 

 between the wind and his nobility/' I know not ; but 

 it certainly in any case is a ridiculous term. A man 

 of fortune, of course, requires his linen well aired, the 

 fire in his dressing-room kept up, his clothes laid out 

 ready for use, his dressing apparatus at hand, and 

 many minor little offices done for him that others wot 

 not of: but I must think a respectable man is equal to 

 do this ; for we are not to suppose a gentleman wants 

 to be edified by the opinions or sentiments of his ser- 

 vant. Perhaps the term originated with some bel 

 esprit among the fraternity, who enjoy the privilege 

 of giving an opinion on what combination of cosmetics 

 (according to the moment) may best serve their lordly 

 master's complexion "to this complexion we must 

 come at last" (God of his mercy forbid it! for 

 where cosmetics are wanted it must be a bad one) 

 or the term may have had its origin from some man 

 of common sense, who invented it in derision of the 

 dress, manners, habits of life, contemptible and dis- 

 gusting arrogance of these gentlemen : but the term 

 has been used, and about as sensibly as that of gentle- 

 men jocks, be its origin what it may ; and really those 

 habits of indolence, impertinence, and expense that 

 formerly were confined to these gentlemen's gentle- 

 men, are making inroads, ay railroads, in the minds 

 of ordinary servants, and are going on under high 

 pressure too. Show me a more insufferable insolent 

 imp than the present "tiger," lounging by the side of 

 his master like a woman of ton in IUT r;irri;i<jv : still, 

 to be stylish, he must do this. It should seem that 



