London at the End of the Century:A Book of Gossip
a Beckett, Arthur William
1900
SEASIDE LODGING FOR YOUNG HOPEFUL.
Some years ago there was published a (I believe of American origin) called in which were described the doings of two naughty but otherwise pleasant children. And earlier still-if I am not mistaken, a third of a century since-the proprietors of gave to the world an excellent volume, in which John Leech had drawn and coloured a series of cartoons showing the chief incidents of As a father I do not regret that this last work is out of print. So far as I can remember, the artist had shown how very bad his hero could be. In one picture Jacky was seen playing a game of cricket in | |
277 | the drawing-room, in another he was discovered the furniture by hammering superfluous nails into the backs of the dining-room chairs, in a third he was practising the performance of a with the baby instead of a barrel on the soles of his boots. Altogether Jacky was having a better time of it than his parents, and I think I may add his sisters, his cousins, his uncles, and his aunts. Nowadays Jacky's sons and even grandsons are better behaved than their unruly ancestor. Still, there is something in the principle of heredity, and consequently it is as well to get to the seaside as quickly as possible. Having children of my own (excellent boys-like their father the very pattern of propriety), I have some little experience of what is best to be done. It is as well to go down unaccompanied (save by your excellent better half) to the seaside place you propose to honour with your patronage. I have known the most promising lodging lost by the appearance of Young Hopeful and his brethren. A lady of my acquaintance a short time since had just arranged for apartments on particularly beneficial terms, when everything was spoiled by the sudden appearance of her two good boys. |
exclaimed the landlady, a spinster of mature age; | |
said the fond mother, | |
replied the landlady; | |
And nothing could shake the decision of the lodging-keeper, and my friend and her boys had to go elsewhere. | |
Another reason why we should look out for apartments without accompanists is to escape the chance of infection. Some householders at the seaside have a very elastic conscience anent the subject of illness. In the opinion of many who wish to get rid of their and their whooping cough is scarlet fever and typhoid merely In August the lodgings are fairly free from danger, but in May, June, and the early part of July there is always a good deal of what I may term about. People who have children who have just recovered from this and that are very fond of sending them to the East Kent coast to regain complete recovery. All you can do when you find this has been done is to charge the landlady with having infringed the statute. If you are a barrister and can back up your charge with a little legal knowledge so | |
279 | much the better. And after doing this there is nothing else to be done. |
