| Citation |
NYGWPB.764.143
27 Dec 1764:23 (1147)
It is a very just observation, that a gentleman is to be
known by his politeness--This qualification, wherever it is
to be found, convinces me that it's possessor has seen the
world and has had his manners formed by a good education.--
The polite man is always received with pleasure, while the.
. . [ ] character, tho' under every advantage of a gay
appearance, never fail to strike us with disagreeable
emotions of contempt and disgust.--I was led into this short
reflection by a circumstance, I can. . . [ ] on without
indignation; what I mean, is the ..[ ] behaviour at the
concert, of a certain set of . . . [males and] females, to
whom, out of mere complaisance to their appearance, I will
give the soft appellation of G..[gentlemen] and ladies.-- I
am a dear lover of music and can't. . . [ ] disturbed in
my enjoyment of an entertainment so polite and. . .
[agree]able. --How great then is my disappointment and
vexation, when, instead of a modest and becoming silence,
nothing is heard during the whole performance but laughing
and talking very loud, squawling, over-turning the benches,
&c.--Behaviour--more suited to a broglio than a musical
entertainment.--What is meant by so ill-timed an
interruption--I know not; for tho' it may be true--that, to
kick up a riot, is a liberal amusement, and particularly
well adapted to some ladies, as it serves to attract the
eyes of the other sex.--I am notwithstanding, pretty
certain, there might be a more proper place than the concert
room, found out for that purpose; for I cannot conceive that
either the audience, or the gentlemen performers, are under
any obligation to bear those impertinencies and I have an
authority to assure those offenders against decency, that if
they don't resolve to behave better for the future; The
managers and performers will be forced, either to leave off
the performance entirely, or be reduced to the disagreeable
necessity of insisting on their absenting themselves from a
place where they do nothing but give offence; or if all this
will not cure the complaint, there are some thoughts of
hiring the adjacent room for the convenience of such, whose
conduct will not bear the eye of the public.---It is
presumed what I have wrote will not be taken amiss by the
persons hinted at---it is not their persons but their
follies which are become obnoxious.--While we are entering
into laudable schemes for our improvement in the arts of
oeconomy in private life; a hint for the better regulation
of our conduct in public, cannot be unacceptable--It may at
least tend to guard us from those improprieties, which, very
deservedly expose us to the ridicule of every sensible
stranger. This is the only end proposed by X.Y.Z.
|