[Illustration: Frontispiece _"UNACCUSTOMED TO DARK-COMPLEXIONED GENTLEMEN."_]

BABOO JABBERJEE, B.A.

F. Anstey

THE WAYFARER'S LIBRARY

J. M. DENT & SONS, Ltd. LONDON

CONTENTS

PAGE

I

_Mr Jabberjee apologises for the unambitious scope of his work; sundry confidences, criticisms, and complaints._ 1

II

_Some account of Mr Jabberjee's experiences at the Westminster Play._ 9

III

_Mr Jabberjee gives his views concerning the Laureateship._ 18

IV

_Containing Mr Jabberjee's Impressions at The Old Masters._ 24

V

_In which Mr Jabberjee expresses his Opinions on Bicycling as a Pastime._ 33

VI

_Dealing with his Adventures at Olympia._ 42

VII

_How Mr Jabberjee risked a Sprat to capture something very like a Whale._ 50

VIII

_How Mr Jabberjee delivered an Oration at a Ladies' Debating Club._ 60

IX

_How he saw the practice of the University Crews, and what he thought of it._ 69

X

_Mr Jabberjee is taken to see a Glove-Fight._ 75

XI

_Mr Jabberjee finds himself in a position of extreme delicacy._ 80

XII

_Mr Jabberjee is taken by surprise._ 88

XIII

_Drawbacks and advantages of being engaged. Some Meditations in a Music-hall, together with notes of certain things that Mr Jabberjee failed to understand._ 96

XIV

_Mr Jabberjee's fellow-student. What's in a Title? An invitation to a Wedding. Mr J. as a wedding guest, with what he thought of the ceremony, and how he distinguished himself on the occasion._ 105

Table of contents (by pages)

• 1: Baboo Jabberjee, B.A. by F. Anstey
• 2: 138XIX Mr Jabberjee tries a fresh tack
• 3: Frontispiece Baboo Hurry Bungsho Jabberjee
• 4: Introductory letter from baboo jabberjee
• 5: Being so unacquainted with the limner's art
• 6: And Gibbonian phraseology on assorted topics
• 7: Until the controller of the train
• 8: Had engaged in theatrical entertainments
• 9: Now as the entertainment proceeded
• 10: Illustration A GOLDEN HEADED UMBRELLA
• 11: CONGRATULATORY ODE To Hon'ble Poet Laureate Alfred Austin
• 12: Illustration MISS JESSIMINA MANKLETOW
• 13: There was also a picture of a Diptych
• 14: As one familiarly connected with Hon'ble Punch
• 15: On receiving the bicycle from his hands
• 16: I instantaneously endured the total upset
• 17: Miss Jessimina at the table head
• 18: I cannot approve of these bicycle contentions
• 19: Illustration WAS ACCOSTED BY A POLITE
• 20: Whereat he warmly congratulated me
• 21: If you were to hand me your portemonnaie now
• 22: And I hereby request Mr TOMKINS
• 23: There was a stout full blown matron
• 24: Independently of masculine companionship or assistance
• 25: Owing to their containing nine passengers
• 26: Nor was there much which was humanly possible to be buttoned
• 27: Stating their precise ponderability
• 28: And confined in padded soft gloves
• 29: Illustration A BEAMING SIMPER OF INDESCRIBABLE SUAVITY
• 30: I leapt into the next compartment
• 31: Discreditable to my feminine companion
• 32: Which is styled the conservatory
• 33: Upon hearing the piece of good news
• 34: Or a Comedian and Patterer and an Eccentric Comedian
• 35: Illustration IN GARBAGE OF UNPARAGONED SHABBINESS
• 36: At a certain sacred Bayswater edifice
• 37: And addressing a lady whom I took to be the bride
• 38: Did loudly request silence for Prince JABBERJEE
• 39: Some haughty masculine might insult her under my very nose
• 40: Being seated on the other side of the hostess
• 41: On my return I did omit to mention Miss WEE WEE to JESSIMINA
• 42: That the swan of avon was hatched
• 43: But was prevented by the lady custodian
• 44: And silently stolen away from Porticobello House
• 45: She performed a hurried pilgrimage to Highbury
• 46: This was what young HOWARD would term the bit of spoof
• 47: To quote the reference of SHAKSPEARE'S character
• 48: The entire ALLBUTT INNETT family
• 49: Illustration PITCH IT STRONG
• 50: XX Mr Jabberjee distinguishes himself in the Bar Examination
• 51: And very industrious young chap with first class abilities
• 52: Baboo CHUCKERBUTTY RAM being a tolerably discreet
• 53: I found a last letter from JESSIMINA
• 54: On inquiries from Mr CHUCKERBUTTY RAM
• 55: Narrow bag full of metal headed rods
• 56: Unless the plaintiff were of superlative loveliness which
• 57: Nevertheless as I have informed Mr SMARTLE
• 58: Miss WEE WEE did earnestly advise me
• 59: And not spare the rod and spoil the salmons
• 60: Of incredible bashfulness and bucolical appearance
• 61: I entrusted my musket to an under keeper
• 62: At this mild reproof Mister BAGSHOT became utterly rubescent
• 63: Presently the beaters approached
• 64: Illustration WHETHER HE HAD WHA HAED WI' HON'BLE WALLACE
• 65: Whereupon I made the humble petition to Mister BAGSHOT that
• 66: You have not only lost the gift of a splendid salmon
• 67: The Mater was very near rolling on the oilcloth
• 68: Illustration BABOO CHUCKERBUTTY RAM
• 69: Mister SMARTLE whispers to me that this is WITHERINGTON
• 70: JESSIMINA is giving her testimony
• 71: That I was entitled to some protection
• 72: XXIX Further proceedings in the Case of Mankletow v
• 73: Illustration MR JUSTICE HONEYGALL
• 74: Hon'ble Sir CHETWYND CUMMERBUND
• 75: And transcribed merely the utterances of Mister WITHERINGTON
• 76: No more pig sticking or tiger shooting
• 77: Very well that is all I have to ask you Mr JABBERJEE
• 78: Instead of lending her ears to my brief and rambling oration
• 79: Witherington rising once more
• 80: By awarding her substantial damages
• 81: Owing to the incorrigible mumbling of his diction
• 82: On closer approach to JESSIMINA
• 83: Notwithstanding my cessation as a contributor