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Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863

"The Book of Snobs"

'The Brummel' and the 'Regent'--Dandy Clubs. The 'Acropolis,' the
'Palladium,' the 'Areopagus,' the 'Pnyx' the 'Pentelicus,' the 'Ilissus'
and the 'Poluphloisboio Thalasses'--Literary Clubs. I never could make
out how the latter set of Clubs got their names; I don't know Greek for
one, and I wonder how many other members of those institutions do? Ever
since the Club Snobs have been announced, I observe a sensation created
on my entrance into any one of these places. Members get up and hustle
together; they nod, they scowl, as they glance towards the present Snob.
'Infernal impudent jackanapes! If he shows me up,' says Colonel Bludyer,
'I'll break every bone in his skin.' 'I told you what would come of
admitting literary men into the Club,' says Ranville Ranville to his
colleague, Spooney, of the Tape and Sealing-Wax Office. 'These people
are very well in their proper places, and as a public man, I make a
point of shaking hands with them, and that sort of thing; but to have
one's privacy obtruded upon by such people is really too much. Come
along, Spooney,' and the pair of prigs retire superciliously.
As I came into the coffee-room at the 'No Surrender,' old Jawkins was
holding out to a knot of men, who were yawning, as usual. There he
stood, waving the STANDARD, and swaggering before the fire. 'What,' says
he, 'did I tell Peel last year? If you touch the Corn Laws, you touch
the Sugar Question; if you touch the Sugar, you touch the Tea.


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