CHAPTER III A LOOPHOLE

verthepublicmeetingheldinCoketown,andwhatsoeverthesubjectofsuchmeeting,someCoketownerwassuretoseizetheoccasionofalludingtohiseminentlypracticalfriendGradgrind.Thisalwayspleasedtheeminentlypracticalfriend.Heknewittobehisdue,buthisduewasacceptable. Hehadreachedtheneutralgroundupontheoutskirtsofthetown,whichwasneithertownnorcountry,andyetwaseitherspoiled,whenhisearswereinvadedbythesoundofmusic.Theclashingandbangingbandattachedtothehorse-ridingestablishment,whichhadtheresetupitsrestinawoodenpavilion,wasinfullbray.Aflag,floatingfromthesummitofthetemple,proclaimedtomankindthatitwas‘Sleary’sHorse-riding’whichclaimedtheirsuffrages.Slearyhimself,astoutmodernstatuewithamoney-boxatitselbow,inanecclesiasticalnicheofearlyGothicarchitecture,tookthemoney.MissJosephineSleary,assomeverylongandverynarrowstripsofprintedbillannounced,wastheninauguratingtheentertainmentswithhergracefulequestrianTyroleanflower-act.Amongtheotherpleasingbutalwaysstrictlymoralwonderswhichmustbeseentobebelieved,SignorJupewasthatafternoonto‘elucidatethedivertingaccomplishmentsofhishighlytrainedperformingdogMerrylegs.’Hewasalsotoexhibit‘hisastoundingfeatofthrowingseventy-fivehundred-weightinrapidsuccessionbackhandedoverhishead,thusformingafountainofsolidironinmid-air,afeatneverbeforeattemptedinthisoranyothercountry,andwhichhavingelicitedsuchrapturousplauditsfromenthusiasticthrongsitcannotbewithdrawn.’ThesameSignorJupewasto‘enliventhevariedperformancesatfrequentintervalswithhischasteShakspereanquipsandretorts.’Lastly,hewastowindthemupbyappearinginhisfavouritecharacterofMr.WilliamButton,ofTooleyStreet,in‘thehighlynovelandlaughablehippo-comediettaofTheTailor’sJourneytoBrentford.’ ThomasGradg