. Thackerayana;. ingularity teaches usinsensibly an impertinent fortitude, and enables us to bear publiccensure for things that most substansiably deserve it. By thismeans they open a gate to folly, and often render a man so ridi-culous as to discredit his virtues and capacities, and unqualify himfrom doing any good in the world. Besides, the giving in to un-common habits of this nature, it is a want of that humble deferencewhich is due to mankind, and, what is worst of all, the certainindication of some secret flaw in the mind of the person thatcommits them. When I was a young man, I remember
. Thackerayana;. ingularity teaches usinsensibly an impertinent fortitude, and enables us to bear publiccensure for things that most substansiably deserve it. By thismeans they open a gate to folly, and often render a man so ridi-culous as to discredit his virtues and capacities, and unqualify himfrom doing any good in the world. Besides, the giving in to un-common habits of this nature, it is a want of that humble deferencewhich is due to mankind, and, what is worst of all, the certainindication of some secret flaw in the mind of the person thatcommits them. When I was a young man, I remember a gentleman of greatintegrity and worth was very remarkable for wearing a broadbelt and a hanger instead of a fashionable sword, though inother points a very well-bred man. I suspected him at first sight 258 THACKERA YANA. to have something wrong in him, but was not able for a long timeto discover any collateral proofs of it. I watched him narrowlylor six-and-thirty years, when at last, to the surprise of every-. body but myself, who had long expected to see the folly breakout, he married his own cook-maid. No. 108. The Tatler.—Dec. 17, 1709. Thus while the mute creation downward bendTheir sight, and to their earthly mother tend,Man looks aloft, and with erected eyesBeholds his own hereditary skies.—Dry den. The Tatler, for a little rational recreation, has visited thetheatre, hoping to enlarge his ideas; but even in 1709 we finda passion for mere acrobatic exhibitions engaging and corrupt-ing the popular taste. 1 While I was in suspense, expecting every moment to seemy old friend Mr. Betterton appear in all the majesty of distress,to my unspeakable amazement there came up a monster with aface between his feet, and as I was looking on he raised himselfon one leg in such a perpendicular posture that the other grewin a direct line above his head. It afterwards twisted itselfinto the motions and wreathings of several different animals, and, the itatler: 259 after great variet
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