A NOTED HIGHWAYMAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 51

A NOTED HIGHWAYMAN.

Claude Duval, who was executed at Tyburn, is the most dramatic figure we have of celebrated highwaymen. The Dick Turpin who rode the famous Black Best from London to York is nn altogether common man to the graceful Frenchman, who took to tbe road as a professioD, and made his career more like a chapter of romance, dancing minuets on Hoiuulow Heath with fair aristocrats, and th<jn lightly returning them their gems and jewellery — never committing murder, but conQuing himself to " Rcbbery under Arms," but under verj different circumstances to Captain Starlight, who adaptfc d himself in Rolf Boldre wood's novel to the pt euliar circumstances of Australian life in the bush. There is some peculiar attractiveness about CUude Duval, who dressed like - a gentleman, and acted his part without the meannc-fs, the recklessness of humsn life, and with a long definnco under many disguises of the police, under that monster of vilecess, Jonathan Wild. The gay light-he&rtedness with which he went to the scaffold was all of a piece with bis life on the road, and although it is perhaps wroDg to have sympathy vsith one who did not reverence the laws of mtum and teum, and who jastly meb a disgraceful death as one of the outlaws of society, the impossibility to resist the attractiveness of hie cbaraotec is just tho same as the impossibility not to admire the quality of Vanity Fair Cigarettes. The more they are smoketl the' more they are liked, and they deserve the splendid reputation they hava secured by all judges'of quality.

— Faddish. — M'Corkle : ." Isn't Brigga naturally a lazy man ? " M'Crackle :' " Not exactly lazy ; but he seems to think it is very unhealthy to work between meals." — Margaret : " Christmas is a serioui season. Don't you think so, Isabel ? * Isabel : " Yes, indeed ; one always gives so much better presents than one gets." Chairman : " I have no doubt, gen'lm'n, I can count 'pon snpportsh of 'm fren', Mr Topington, in this mattersh." Mr Topington: " Very eorry, ole f Tr ; most 'appy to see you home, 'm sure ; but factsh isb, don't thkdl can supporten xneahelf."