A Hundred Years Ago
"Tax SPECTATOR," FEBRUARY 1ST, 1834.
CHINESE PUFFINO.—The following is quoted in the newspapers of the week, as a literal translation of a Chinese inkrnaker's shop. bill.
"At the shop Shun-wang—very good ink—fine, fine, ancient shop—grandfather, father, and self make this ink—fine and hard, very hard,—picked out, very fine and black, before now,—sell very good ink, prime cost very high. This ink is #ery heavy,—so is gold. No one makes like it. Others who make ink, make it for money and to cheat ; I only make it for a name. Plenty of gentlemen know my ink. My family never cheats, always bears a good name. I make ink for the Son Of Heaven, and all the Mandarins round. All A-kwanteae's (gentlemen) must come to my shop, and -know my name!"
There is a frankness and sincerity in the style of this puff, which
recommend it to one's belief. If it is a lie, it is a plain, straightfor- ward lie, honestly told. It reads like COBBETT'S praise of himself, which the writer at any rate puts faith in. There is a touch of poetry in it, too and genuine. professional gusto. "This ink is heavy—so is gold" reminds tvre of the grandiloquence of SrEartE's Barber in praise of -the buckle of Ins wig,—" dip it in the ocean, it will stand ; "' and of the bootmaker, who, being praised for the exquisite workmanship of a curious boot, rejoined, I made it
in a moment of enthusiasm." -
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