"Maria, good-humored and handsome and tall,
For a husband was at her last stake;
And having in vain danced at many a ball,
Is now happy to jump at a Wake."
It was Lady Townsend who said that the human race was divided into men, women, and Herveys. This epigram has been borrowed in our day, substituting for Herveys the Beecher family.
When some one said of a lady she must be in spirits, for she lives with Mr. Walpole, "Yes," replied Lady Townsend, "spirits of hartshorn."
Walpole, caustic and critical, regarded this lady as undeniably witty.
It was Hannah More who said: "There are but two bad things in this world—sin and bile."
Miss Thackeray quotes several epigrammatic definitions from her friend Miss Evans, as:
"A privileged person: one who is so much a savage when thwarted that civilized persons avoid thwarting him."
"A musical woman: one who has strength enough to make much noise and obtuseness enough not to mind it."
"Ouida" has given us some excellent examples of epigram, as: