| Citation |
MJ.783.015
18 Feb 1783:31 (10/7 494)
To the Printress: "Ridicule shall frequently prevail, And
cut the knot, when graver reasons fail."
It ought, Madam, to be esteemed a nice point in
legislation, to make the follies of the people contribute to
the good of the community. --I want an experiment made; but
what folly shall we first make a trial on? --Upon my word,
Madam, I am here to make a stand!
--Pray do not attribute this break to the scarcity of
folly; but rather to the abundance.--I have so many play-
things before me, that, upon my word, I cannot tell which to
divert myself with. --If I may be allowed to know my own
principal folly, it is attending the plays--take notice,
gentle readers, that I do not gamble: Plays therefore shall
be my present toy.--
Ye Tragedians and Comedians, of Baltimore, (I believe ye
are not Gladiators)--ye may rest assured, that I am not
going to lay the weight of a straw in your way; nay, if ye
were to obtain new leases for lives, I should not murmur on
it; but, nevertheless, if I am to consider you as a part of
the Community, it is a part which sells ideal satisfaction,
for real money; I believe you take no paper; which, by the
bye, is he fittest of any in the world for you; at least, by
Mosaic law, idea for idea--- Now indulgent reader, to keep
thee no longer in suspense, my design is to have the follies
of the people directed to the good of the community, and
then fool on.-- Let the manager of the Baltimore Theatre,
give the town several benefits, in the course of the season,
the money, arising therefrom, be appropriated to paving the
streets, and repairing the bridges, (particularly the middle
one, as it leads to the theatre) and then, Mr. Ryan, with
his catalogue of farcicans, would become a most useful
appendage to the town. Many people who, at this time, would
not give one penny towards paving the streets, &c. would
give ninety times that sum, to see Cato well acted--Hence,
Madam, it is plain, that our scheme, well managed, would
delude those worthy gentry, who are above the commonplace
method of contributed to the conveniencies of the public by
subscription, into a generous contribution, by enveloping
the good of the community with a cloud of folly. -- Ye
gamesters, who experience a greater variety of fortune and
passion, in one night, than a philosopher in twenty years,
pray lend an helping hand to a work full of utility, and so
generously begun. [signed] A. E. February 11, 1783.
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