| Citation |
NHG-P.767.003
9 Jan 1767:11,12,13 (536)
A Letter, complaining of the Wisperers and Giglers among the
Fair Sex.
Instance of their rude Behaviour during a Visit. Whispering
and gigling improper at church, in the play house, and other
places.
. . . [4 lines of Latin, attributed to Hor.]
Imparted to each laughter-loving fair,
The whizzing whisper glides from chair to chair;
And e'en the conscious ear receives it half,
With titterings they betray the stifled laugh.
Such giggling glee!--what force so full of mirth!--
But tell the tickling cause, that gave it birth.
To Mr. Town.
[a letter describing the writer's experiences of young
ladies giggling and whispering at a dinner party given by
Mr. Town and elsewhere; 62 lines, 16 lines]
Modern writers of comedy often introduce a pert [ ] into
their pieces, who is very severe upon the rest of the
company; but all his waggery is spoken aside. The gigglers
and whisperers seem to be acting the same part in company,
that this arch rogue does in a play. Every word or motion
produces a train of whispers; the dropping of a snuff-box,
or spilling the tea, is sure to be accompanied with a
titter; and upon the entrance of any one with something
particular in his person or manner, I have seen a whole room
in a buzz like a bee-hive.
. . . [13 more lines about this behavior at church]
It were also to be wished, that the ladies would be pleased
to confine themselves to whispering, in their tete a tete
conferences at the opera or the play house; which would be a
proper deference to the rest of the audience. In France, we
are told, it is common for the parterre to join with the
performers in any favourite air; but we seem to have carried
this custom still further, as the company in our boxes,
without concerning themselves in the least with the play,
are even louder than the players. The wit and humour of a
Vanbrugh or a Congreve is frequently interrupted by a
brilliant dialogue between two persons of fashions; and a
love-scene in the side-box has often been more attended to,
than that on the stage. As to their loud bursts of laughter
at the theatre, they may very well be excused, when they are
excited by any lively strokes in a comedy; but I have seen
our ladies titter at the most distressful scenes in Romeo
and Juliet, grin over the anguish of a Manamia or Belvidere,
and fairly laugh King Lear off the stage.
. . . [16 lines, 36 more lines, signed] I am, Sir, Your most
humble Servant, K. L.
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