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
In examining the interior of a ball-room it must be confessed, that we
shall certainly find circumstances occasionally arising, that give birth
to feelings neither of a pleasant nor of a moral nature. It is not
unusual, for instance, to discover among the females one that excels in
the beauty of her person, and another that excels in the elegance of her
dress. The eyes of all are more than proportionally turned upon these
for the whole night. This little circumstance soon generates a variety
of improper passions. It calls up vanity and conceit in the breasts of
these objects of admiration. It raises up envy and jealousy, and even
anger in some of the rest. These become envious of the beauty of the
former, envious of their taste, envious of their cloathing, and, above
all, jealous of the admiration bestowed upon them. In this evil state of
mind one passion begets another; and instances have occurred, where some
of these have felt displeased at the apparent coldness and indifference
of their own partners, because they have appeared to turn their eyes
more upon the favourites of the night, than upon themselves.
In the same room, when the parties begin to take their places to dance;
other little circumstances not infrequently occur, which give rise to
other passions. Many aiming to be as near the top of the dance as
possible, are disappointed of their places by others, who have just
slept into them, dissatisfaction, and sometimes murmurs, follow. Each in
his own mind, supposes his claims and pretensions to the higher place to
be stronger on account of his money, his connections, his profession, or
his rank. Thus his own dispositions to pride are only the more nursed
and fostered. Malice too is often engendered on the occasion; and though
the parties would not be allowed by the master of the ceremonies to
disturb the tranquillity of the room, animosities have sometimes sprung
up between them, which have not been healed in a little time. I am aware
that in some large towns of the kingdom regulations are made with a view
to the prevention of these evils, but it is in some only; and even where
they are made, though they prevent outward rude behaviour, they do not
prevent inward dissatisfaction. Monied influence still feels itself
often debased by a lower place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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