Bohemia in London

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... A WEDDING IN BOHEMIA A SCULPTOR and a painter girl fell in love with each other, and, as they had neither money nor prospect of getting any, had nothing to wait for, and so got married at once. A cousin of the sculptor, not knowing what was on foot, unexpectedly ordered a bust, and paid him twenty pounds: with so much opulence, they decided to spend their honeymoon in the Latin Quarter. We were very fond of them both, and held a consultation on the matter. Was it right, was it fitting, we asked, that these two should be married and have no wedding party? Let us uphold the honour of the arts, and give them a send-off. Things were very well with some of us, and we were sure of a couple of sovereigns, so four of us set off through the back streets of Bloomsbury to a small French restaurant that had always held us welcome. "A wedding party?" asked madame of the restaurant. "And who of you is to be married? Monsieur the sculptor--quel brave garcon--and the mademoiselle si petite, si jolie." She was delighted, and promised us the upstairs room to ourselves, and said she would do her best for us. We separated, to whip up the guests, collect the money, buy some roses in Covent Garden, and borrow a famous and gigantic loving-cup that has taken its part in a dozen celebrations. We bought a modelling tool and a huge cheap paint brush, and decorated them with ribbons. Our party met that evening at the Mad Club, twelve men and women, determined on enjoyment. The sculptor, who had shaved his beard for the blessed occasion, arrived last, with the little painter girl. He was twenty-two, and she nineteen, and we greeted them with cheers. Then, delighting in the envy of the rest of the Club, who had not been invited, and had the bad taste to laugh at our...