A Portraiture of Quakerism, Volume 1: Taken from a View of the Education and Discipline, Social Manners, Civil and Political Economy, Religious Principles and Character, of the Society of FriendsClarkson, Thomas
Religion
A Portraiture of Quakerism, Volume 1: Taken from a View of the Education and Discipline, Social Manners, Civil and Political Economy, Religious Principles and Character, of the Society of Friends
Clarkson, Thomas
Society of Friends
If we were to go into the company of persons of a certain class in the
metropolis, we should find them deriving the enjoyments of conversation
from some such subjects as the following. One of the company would
probably talk of the exquisitely fine manner, in which an actress
performed her part on a certain night. This, would immediately give
birth to a variety of remarks. The name of one actress would bring up
that of another, and the name of one play that of another, till at
length the stage would become the source of supplying a subject for a
considerable time. Another would probably ask, as soon as this
theatrical discussion was over, the opinion of the company on the
subject of the duel, which the morning papers had reported to have taken
place. This new subject would give new fuel to the fire, and new
discussions would take place, and new observations fly about from all
quarters. Some would applaud the courage of the person, who had been
killed. Others would pity his hard fate. But none would censure his
wickedness for having resorted to such dreadful means for the
determination of his dispute. From this time the laws of honour would be
canvassed, and disquisitions about punctilio, and etiquette, and honour,
would arrest the attention of the company, and supply them with
materials for a time. These subjects would be followed by observations
on fashionable head-dresses, by the relation of elopements, by the
reports of affairs of gallantry. Each subject would occupy its own
portion of time. Thus each would help to swell up the measure of
conversation, and to make up the enjoyment of the visit.
If we were to go among persons of another class in the metropolis, we
should probably find them collecting their entertainment from other
topics. One would talk on the subject of some splendid route. He would
expatiate on the number of rooms that were opened, on the superb manner,
in which they were fitted up, and on the sum of money that was expended
in procuring every delicacy that was out of season. A second would
probably ask, if it were really known, how much one of their female
acquaintance had lost at faro. A third would make observations on the
dresses at the last drawing room. A fourth would particularize the
liveries brought out by individuals on the birth-day. A fifth would ask,
who was to have the vacant red ribbon. Another would tell, how the
minister had given a certain place to a certain nobleman's third son,
and would observe, that the whole family were now provided for by
government. Each of these topics would be enlarged upon, as successively
started, and thus conversation would be kept going during the time of
the visit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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