| Citation |
CG-NH.757.002
29 Jan 1757:11,12 (95)
FROM THE CONNOISSEUR, No. 131.
No other disposition or turn of mind so totally unfits a man
for all the social offices of life as indolence. An idle
man is a mere blank in the creation, he seems made for no
end, and lives for no purpose. [28 lines describing
individual and social problems of lazy men.] Being at
Sadler's Wells a few nights ago, I could not but admire the
surprising feats of activity there exhibited, and at the
same time reflected what incredible pains and labour it must
have cost the performers to arrive at the art of writhing
their bodies into such various and unnatural contortions.
But I was most taken with the ingenious artists, who after
fixing two bells to each foot, the same number to each hand,
and with great propriety placing a cap and bells on his
head, played several tunes, and went through as regular
triple peals and Bob Majors, as the boys at Christ church
hospital; all which he effected by the due jerking of his
arms and legs, and nodding his head backward and forward.
[followed by 7 lines of recriminations against lazy persons
followed by 92 lines lamenting the wastefulness and sorrow
caused by indolence.]
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