Genre:

Preface, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

T Hood

Subjects:

Cruelty, Horticulture, Instruments, Time

    Reflecting on the early appearance of many of the annuals, Hood enquires whether there is not 'something approaching to cruelty to animals' in hauling 'Time' along by his forelock 'until he breaks his shins over his own calendar, or knocks his head against one of his own date trees?' (vi). Hood does not affect 'these unseasonable forestallings'; he is 'content with things as they naturally ripen, without forcing', and his gardener 'who inclines to otium cum dig [leisure with dignity]—is of the same opinion; forcing time is quite out of the question' (ix–x). The illustration captioned 'Otium cum dig—' (facing x) depicts a vacant-looking gardener leaning on his spade smoking a pipe with a tankard by his feet, while a snail ascends the shaft of his spade, and the garden appears in disarray. 'What rational man', Hood asks, 'would give a dump for a chronometer "warranted fast?"'. He thinks it would be no use putting a clock forwards, 'feeling that Sol, who drives the Old Regulator [the name of a make of coach], knows his daily pace too well to be deceived'. (x)