| Citation |
RPG.778.016
10 Apr 1778:41, 42, 43 (12)
AN ELECTION BALL, in Poetical Letters from Mr. Inkle, at
Bath, to his Wife at Gloucester.
By the author of the New Bath Guide.
Letter I. [2 1/2 columns with musical and dance reference
passim, including the following:]
And so, as I told thee before, my dear wife,
I'll go to the ball tho' it cost me my life--
Must I be shut up, till like poor neighbour Snarler
O be smok'd like a joss in mine own little parlour?
. . . [18 lines]
I too would resume my poetical fire,
And take down my worm-eaten rusty old lyre,
. . . [36 lines]
Or under the muses get pretty good places,
By cleaning their slippers, and vamping their bases,
And turn out at last very musical fellow
By blowing their organ, and mending their bellows,
. . . [12 lines]
I think our good member is far more polite
To give us an elegant dance for the night,
. . . [4 lines]
I think it the best entertainment of all,
To taste the sweet cream of a quality ball,
. . . [16 lines]
And now I must tell thee, dear wife, how thy daughter
Makes a progress in all the fine things thou hast taught
her;
Not like thy old grandmother Dorothy Distoff,
Who'd spin half a day without taking her fist off;
She'll dance a cotilion--make verses--draw faces--
Read novels--sing catches--and study the graces;
. . . [1 column]
[Description of daughter's headdress:]
To a cap like a bat
(Which was once my cravat)
Part gracefully platted and pinn'd is,
Part stuck upon gauze
Resembles Mackaws
And all the fine birds of the Indies.
. . . [5 more verses]
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