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Runciman, James, 1852-1891

"The Chequers Being the Natural History of a Public-House, Set Forth in a Loafer's Diary"

When the history of our decline and
fall comes to be Written by some Australian Gibbon, the historian may
choose the British bully and turfite to set alongside of the awful
creatures who preyed on the rich fools of wicked old Rome.


THE GENTLEMAN, THE DOCTOR, AND DICKY.

We have had enough of the roughs for a time, and I want now to deal with
a few of the wrecks that I see--wrecks that started their voyage with
every promise of prosperity. Let no young fellow who reads what follows
fancy that he is safe. He may be laborious; an unguarded moment after a
spell of severe work may see him take the first step to ruin. He may be
brilliant: his brilliancy of intellect, by causing him to be courted,
may lead him into idleness, and idleness is the bed whereon parasitic
vices flourish rankly. Take warning.
I was invited to go for a drive, but I had letters to write, and said
so. A quiet old man who was sitting in the darkest corner of the bar
spoke to me softly, "If your letters are merely about ordinary
business, you may dictate them to me here, and I will transcribe them
and send them off.


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