A carriage umbrella, for example, set you speculating on the vicissitudes of human greatness.

When the collection impinged upon Mr.
Hucks so that he could not shave without knocking his elbow, he would hold an auction, and effect a partial clearance; and this would happen about once in four years.

But this clearance was never more than partial, and the residuum ever consisted in the main of musical instruments.

Every man has his own superstitions, and for some reason Mr.Hucks--who had not a note of music in his soul--deemed it unlucky to part with musical instruments, which was the more embarrassing because his most transitory tenants happened to be folk who practised music on the public for a livelihood--German bandsmen, for instance, not so well versed in English law as to be aware that implements of a man's trade stand exempt from seizure in execution.

Indeed, the bulk of the exhibits in Mr.Hucks's museum could legally have been recovered from him under writ of replevy.