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CHAPTER XXXII
The tanner … The hotel … Drinking claret … London journal … New
field … Commonplaceness … The three individuals … Botheration …
Frank and ardent。
'TANNER！' said I musingly； as I left the bridge； 'Tanner！ what can
the man who cures raw skins by means of a preparation of oak bark
and other materials have to do with the name which these fakers； as
they call themselves； bestow on the smallest silver coin in these
dominions？ Tanner！ I can't trace the connection between the man
of bark and the silver coin； unless journeymen tanners are in the
habit of working for sixpence a day。 But I have it；' I continued；
flourishing my hat over my head； 'tanner； in this instance； is not
an English word。' Is it not surprising that the language of Mr。
Petulengro and of Tawno Chikno is continually coming to my
assistance whenever I appear to be at a nonplus with respect to the
derivation of crabbed words？ I have made out crabbed words in
AEschylus by means of the speech of Chikno and Petulengro； and even
in my Biblical researches I have derived no slight assistance from
it。 It appears to be a kind of picklock； an open sesame； Tanner …
Tawno！ the one is but a modification of the other； they were
originally identical； and have still much the same signification。
Tanner； in the language of the apple…woman； meaneth the smallest of
English silver coins； and Tawno； in the language of the
Petulengres； though bestowed upon the biggest of the Romans；
according to strict interpretation signifieth a little child。
So I left the bridge； retracing my steps for a considerable way； as
I thought I had seen enough in the direction in which I had
hitherto been wandering； I should say that I scarcely walked less
than thirty miles about the big city on the day of my first
arrival。 Night came on； but still I was walking about； my eyes
wide open； and admiring everything that presented itself to them。
Everything was new to me； for everything is different in London
from what it is elsewhere … the people； their language； the horses；
the TOUT ENSEMBLE … even the stones of London are different from
others … at least it appeared to me that I had never walked with
the same case and facility on the flagstones of a country town as
on those of London； so I continued roving about till night came on；
and then the splendour of some of the shops particularly struck me。
'A regular Arabian Nights entertainment！' said I； as I looked into
one on Cornhill； gorgeous with precious merchandise； and lighted up
with lustres； the rays of which were reflected from a hundred
mirrors。
But； notwithstanding the excellence of the London pavement； I began
about nine o'clock to feel myself thoroughly tired； painfully and
slowly did I drag my feet along。 I also felt very much in want of
some refreshment； and I remembered that since breakfast I had taken
nothing。 I was now in the Strand； and； glancing about； I perceived
that I was close by an hotel； which bore over the door the somewhat
remarkable name of Holy Lands。 Without a moment's hesitation I
entered a well…lighted passage； and； turning to the left； I found
myself in a well…lighted coffee…room； with a well…dressed and
frizzled waiter before me； 'Bring me some claret；' said I； for I
was rather faint than hungry； and I felt ashamed to give a humbler
order to so well…dressed an individual。 The waiter looked at me
for a moment； then； making a low bow； he bustled off； and I sat
myself down in the box nearest to the window。 Presently the waiter
returned； bearing beneath his left arm a long bottle； and between
the fingers of his right hand two large purple glasses； placing the
latter on the table； he produced a corkscrew； drew the cork in a
twinkling； set the bottle down before me with a bang； and then；
standing still； appeared to watch my movements。 You think I don't
know how to drink a glass of claret； thought I to myself。 I'll
soon show you how we drink claret where I come from； and； filling
one of the glasses to the brim； I flickered it for a moment between
my eyes and the lustre； and then held it to my nose； having given
that organ full time to test the bouquet of the wine； I applied the
glass to my lips； taking a large mouthful of the wine； which I
swallowed slowly and by degrees； that the palate might likewise
have an opportunity of performing its functions。 A second mouthful
I disposed of more summarily； then； placing the empty glass upon
the table； I fixed my eyes upon the bottle； and said … nothing；
whereupon the waiter； who had been observing the whole process with
considerable attention； made me a bow yet more low than before；
and； turning on his heel； retired with a smart chuck of his head；
as much as to say； It is all right： the young man is used to
claret。
And when the waiter had retired I took a second glass of the wine；
which I found excellent； and； observing a newspaper lying near me；
I took it up and began perusing it。 It has been observed somewhere
that people who are in the habit of reading newspapers every day
are not unfrequently struck with the excellence of style and
general talent which they display。 Now； if that be the case； how
must I have been surprised； who was reading a newspaper for the
first time； and that one of the best of the London journals！ Yes；
strange as it may seem； it was nevertheless true that； up to the
moment of which I am speaking； I had never read a newspaper of any
description。 I of course had frequently seen journals； and even
handled them； but； as for reading them； what were they to me？ I
cared not for news。 But here I was now with my claret before me；
perusing； perhaps； the best of all the London journals； it was not
the …； and I was astonished： an entirely new field of literature
appeared to be opened to my view。 It was a discovery； but I
confess rather an unpleasant one； for I said to myself； If literary
talent is so very common in London； that the journals； things
which； as their very name denotes； are ephemeral； are written in a
style like the article I have been perusing； how can I hope to
distinguish myself in this big town； when； for the life of me； I
don't think I could write anything half so clever as what I have
been reading？ And then I laid down the paper； and fell into deep
musing； rousing myself from which； I took a glass of wine； and；
pouring out another； began musing again。 What I have been reading；
thought I； is certainly very clever and very talented； but talent
and cleverness I think I have heard some one say are very
commonplace things； only fitted for everyday occasions。 I question
whether the man who wrote the book I saw this day on the bridge was
a clever man； but； after all； was he not something much better？ I
don't think he could have written this article； but then he wrote
the book which I saw on the bridge。 Then； if he could not have
written the article on which I now hold my forefinger … and I do
not believe he could … why should I feel discouraged at the
consciousness that I； too； could not write it？ I certainly could
no more have written the article than he could； but then； like him；
though I would not compare myself to the man who wrote the book I
saw upon the bridge； I think I could … and here I emptied the glass
of claret … write something better。
Thereupon I resumed the newspaper； and； as I was before struck with
the fluency of style and the general talent which it displayed； I
was now equally so with its commonplaceness and want of originality
on every subject； and it was evident to me that； whatever advantage
these newspaper…writers might have over me in some points； they had
never studied the Welsh bards； translated Kaempe Viser； or been
under the pupilage of Mr。 Petulengro and Tawno Chikno。
And as I sat conning the newspaper three individuals entered the
room； and seated themselves in the box at the farther end of which
I was。 They were all three very well dressed； two of them elderly
gentlemen； the third a young man about my own age； or perhaps a
year or two older： they called for coffee； and； after two or three
observations； the two eldest commenced a conversation in French；
which； however； though they spoke it fluently enough； I perceived
at once was not their native language； the young man； however； took
no part in their conversation； and when they addressed a portion to
him； which indeed was but rarely； merely replied by a monosyllable。
I have never been a listener； and I paid but little heed to their
discourse； nor indeed to themselves； as I occasionally looked up；
however； I could perceive that the features of the young man； who
chanced to be seated exactly opposite to me； wore an air of
constraint and vexation。 This circumstance caused me to observe