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6 JEEMOIBS OF JOSEPH GBUIAIDI,
known to be inebriated: a rather scarce virtue among players
of later times, and one which men of far higher rank in their profession would do well to profit by.
He appears to have been a very singular and eccentric man.
It would be difficult to account for the little traits of his cha- racter which are developed in the earlier pages of this book, unless this circumstance were borne in mind. He purchased a small quantity of ground at Lambeth once, part of which was laid out as a garden; he entered into possession of it in the very depth of a most inclement winter, but he was so impatient to ascertain how "this garden would look in. full bloom, tiiat, finding it quite impossible to wait till the coming of spring and summer gradually developed its beauties, he had it at once decorated with an immense quantity of artificial flowers, and the branches of all the trees bent beneath the weight of the most luxuriant foliage, and the ntost abundant crops of fruit, all,, it is needless to say, artificial also*
A singular trait in this individual's character, -was a vague
and profound.dread of the 14th day of the month.- .At its ap- proach he was always nervous, disquieted, and anxious: directly it had passed he was another man again,, and invariably ex- claimed, in his broken English, " Ah I now I am safe for anoder month." If this circumstance were.- unaccompanied by any singular coincidence it would be scarcely worth mentioning ; but it is remarkable that he actually died, on the 14th day of March; and that he was born, christened,,,and. married on the 14th of the month.
Them are other anecdotes of the same kind: told of Hemi
Qwfcre, and others; this one is undoubtedly true, and it may "b& added to the list of coincidences or presentiments, or by whatever name the reader pleases to call -them, as a veracious and well-authenticated instance.
These are not the only odd characteristics of the -man. He
was a most morbidly sensitive and melancholy being, and enter- |
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