AUTICLES MANUFACTURED FROM EAT- SKINS. 
119 
philosophers and sinners, of saints and sages, than all the 
temptations in the world besides. 
" Now, Sir Charles " (to assume a case), "you had the 
honour, yesterday morning, of" accompanying your betrothed 
to the mercer's shop, to procure some little necessaries for 
the evening ball. Those matters being settled, it then became 
your part to play the gallant knight ; upon which you stoutly 
demanded to see some ladies' kid gloves — some of the very 
best French kid ; for nothing less would suit. Down the 
shopman brought them with a gusto, being very sanguine in 
their praise, because he considered them an article not to be 
equalled ; at the same time declaring he could fold a pair of 
them up and place them in a walnut shell. Your lady-love 
was so delighted, when she beheld them, that two pairs were 
instantly selected — a primrose pair for the morning wear, 
and a white pair for the coming evening. That done, 
you threw down your three half-crowns like a hero, and 
thought yourself the happiest man alive. But what fol- 
lowed ? Why, you no sooner arrived home, than off the 
lady ran in ecstasies to mamma and papa, and sisters, and 
serv^ants, and, indeed, any and every one in the house, to 
show them the dear, delightful present you had made her. 
Did the matter end there 1 Certainly not ; for you, in the 
ardour of love, must have the honour of helping to try them 
on. You did so, and certainly nothing could be more 
purely white or delicately soft, except the fair hands that 
wore them ! At least, so you thought. Then, with what a 
dim gaze of frenzy did you look upon the objects of your 
adoration, and to soothe the agitation of your throbbing hearty 
you sank as if by magic on one knee, then fervently j)ressing 
her hands to your quivering lips you kissed — whaf? — her 
hands ? — No. French kid gloves ? — No. What then ? — 
Why, rat-shins ? Nay, do not start ; I say rat-skins, the 
primitive owners of which used to live by sometimes devouring 
horse-flesh at Montfau9on, and at others feeding on the veriest 
filth and garbage in the sewers of Paris ; and yet withal^ 
nothing in the wide world can equal rat-skins for beautifying 
even the fair hands of our most beloved sovereign Queen 
Victoria. 
To me it is a mystery why rat-skins should be at all 
objectionable for gloves, when, at the same time, the skins of 
