AT A ROSE-SHOW 255 



possess an overwhelming power, like that suburban, 

 pot-house, betting Eleven, who once upon a time per- 

 suaded Jimmy Dean to act as umpire at one of their 

 boosy matches, and ran him home six miles across 

 country with furious execrations and threats to 

 London, because he gave a decision adverse to their 

 interest at a critical period of the game. 



At one time you will see the Irascible Exhibitor 

 standing by his Roses, and revealing his wrongs to 

 any who will hear — occasionally making a deep im- 

 pression upon elderly ladies, and almost persuading 

 very young reporters to chronicle his woes in print ; 

 but oftener failing to evoke sympathy, you will find 

 him with a countenance, like Displeasure in the Fairy 

 Queen^ * lompish and full sullein,' aloof, solitary — like 

 some morose old pike swimming slowly about in a 

 back-water, while all the other fishes are leaping in 

 the sunlit stream. Finally, he discovers some mal- 

 content like himself — un sot trouve toujours un plus 

 sot qui Vadmire — and they go off together to the 

 darkest corner of the most dismal room of their inn, 

 to enjoy their woes, and to defy their fellow-creatures, 

 over a succession of * two brandies and cold/ 



I know only of one other species of exhibitor dis- 

 creditable to the genus. The Covetous Exhibitor^ whose 

 avarice has slain his honour. His motto is Money, 

 * Si possis recte, si non quocunque modo, Money.' 



