We can defend ourselves from Cold and Rain much more easily than we can from the fatigue brought on by walking in Hot Weather.
“Careful Observers can foretell the hour,
By sure prognostics, when to dread a shower.
If you are Wise, then go not far to Dine,
You’ll spend in Coach hire more than save in Wine.”
The Vauxhall season is another source of considerable profit to the proprietors of the Leathern Conveniences.
The least productive Months are February, March, and April: this may be partly accounted for, by the Economy which is so inevitably submitted to during those months, occasioned by People’s pockets being drained by Christmas Bills and Christmas Gambols.
On an average of Forty weeks, it seemed, that the most productive Days are Wednesdays and Thursdays. This may, in some measure, be accounted for, by the greater number of Dinner parties, &c. which are given on those days.
One of the most frequent uses of these accommodating Vehicles, is to carry People out to Dinner. The following hint, every one who is equally a true lover of polite Punctuality and of a Hot Dinner, will think Good Advice.
An Excuse, which is as foolish as it is common, but which a furious Economist seems to fancy is a sufficient plea for spoiling the best Feast, is, “there was not a Coach to be had.” Uncalculating and Improvident! not to send for one till the very last moment. You save nothing by it!—you spoil your Friend’s Dinner! and excite the displeasure of his Guests!!—and all this—to save your dear, dear self, Sixpence!!! (or as I found it in Mr. Jervis’s MS. “a little white farthing.”) As such a Mite would have prevented it, although your Polite host may pretend not to notice your Rudeness, no Apology that you may make can cancel such a confirmed certificate of your Selfish Impertinence; therefore be not so silly as to fancy that it will. Remember the English Proverb, “Hunger and Anger are nearly allied;” and the Scotch saying, that “Hungry people are aye Angry.”