most glowing and adulatory terms that an Oriental language can afford, provided of course that the occasion is favourable., five or six grandiose appellatives are quite the norm; euphuisms and florid peri- phrases abound; Scripture and Talmud are quoted in every other line; and the year of the communication is indicated by certain letters of a biblical verse, which are dotted ‘above, and whose numerical values amount to the date required. In this last connection Calman is quite an adept, having discovered several suitable texts for many years to come; and there are, indeed, few pastimes that he prefers to burrowing in his Bible for verses that shall not only possess this peculiar characteristic, but shall also contain .sentiments appropriate to divers occasions.
When he first assumed his epistolary vocation, a kind friend suggested that it would be a novel enterprise to establish a letter-writing office in the "Lane" every Sunday morning. The idea struck Calman as worthy of realization; and he accordingly had a locomotive desk manufactured, furnished with two huge wheels and a seat—much like an itinerant knife-grinder's machine. In the receptacle of the desk he laid in a store of notepaper, envelopes, pens and ink, that would have lasted an ordinary man fully six months, and after adding a pink blottingpad, which he had bought at a sale a few days before, he set out one sunny morning on his venturesome quest. Throughout the journey to the top of Middlesex Street, where he had fixed upon his "pitch," he was greeted by salvoes of inquisitive and sarcastic remarks; and on finally stationing his escritoire at the edge of the curbstone and placing himself on the seat, the flood of curious sight-seers well-night overwhelmed him. A large placard affixed to the front of the structure by means of two upright sticks, bore the
following inscription in striking characters, in the three languages of which Calman considered himself master :—
NOTICE.
I, CALMAN BRODY, make known to the Honoured Public, that I have opened an Office for writing Letters of all kinds, in good English, Hebrew, or Yiddish, according to the wish of man and man, and I beg to offer my Useful Service to the Honoured Public at the following prices: 3d. for the first 4 pages or part of 4 pages, and 1d. for every succeeding page or part of a page.
Paper and Envelopes provided Gratis and for nothing.
N. B. Letters written while you wait. All orders strictly attended to.
Accuracy and neatness guaranteed.
IMPORTANT: The only Letter-Writing office in the Streets of London.
Every Sunday, from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. in the Lane.
A great, gasping, chattering crowd assembled round the bureau, joining in a polyglot commentary on the unique announcement, and subjecting its author to an endless cross-fire of sallies and chestnuts. At first Calman humoured the mob, answering their banter in a light-hearted vein, and picking out particular offenders for an especial kind of scathing retort, which consisted in a feigned knowledge of their private backslidings. But this occupation was evidently not the one that was to bring him in a lucrative return; and the hope of practising his advertised talents steadily receded as the day advanced. Two persons, indeed—a seedy-looking vendor of old shoes and a portly, pasty-faced woman—were potential customers, but their