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Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863

"The Newcomes"

And as
Dick, under yonder terrific appearance of waving cloak, bristling beard,
and shadowy sombrero, is a good kindly simple creature, got up at a very
cheap rate, his life is so consistent with his dress; he gives his genius
a darkling swagger, and a romantic envelope, which, being removed, you
find, not a bravo, but a kind chirping soul; not a moody poet avoiding
mankind for the better company of his own great thoughts, but a jolly
little chap who has an aptitude for painting brocade gowns, a bit of
armour (with figures inside them), or trees and cattle, or gondolas and
buildings, or what not; an instinct for the picturesque, which exhibits
itself in his works, and outwardly on his person; beyond this, a gentle
creature loving his friends, his cups, feasts, merrymakings, and all good
things. The kindest folks alive I have found among those scowling
whiskeradoes. They open oysters with their yataghans, toast muffins on
their rapiers, and fill their Venice glasses with half-and-half.


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