Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-05-23

ately, or as If the very ghcE of good sensf
was to be laid in ali good c bnpany. Con.
versation was intended asia kind of traf
nc OF mental commodities; but no BODY
now dare open their budget: and, lest ma
turc should set some tongue going, the
puppies vi the World have, from time Ia
u'ne, con,rlved 10 put u kind Of rag in our
mouths, by lnventing certain terms calcu.
lated to turn every man TO iidicuie, who
VIII venture to deliver his sentiments, or
disclose his mind for the information or en-
ter'alnment of the company. If you at.
tempt 10 tell Il story, one puppy puts his
hand to his cheek, and cries patch inn
plying, 1t seems, that The tale is old, and
smells OF I.e MAer; and, if you continue
your narration minute and u half, ano-
ther puppy turns to the monkey next him,
aud whispers, what q bore, or boar 10
lor don't know how 10 spell their non-
sense (but take it which way you willy
IL Is intended To convey an idea of tedious
ness and TO compare the speaker to hog
or gimiet: but sure, such wretches are
themselves the greatest enemies 10 good
company; mere hampers 10 the mind, wet
blankets 10 the imagination, and extin-
gushers Of good sense and good humour.
y bold Tree spirit, it is true, viii leap these
'ences' but 1t IS hard, methiaks, that a
nam modest man should be stopped in the
high road of conversation, and not suffer-
ed TO so on without interruption.
= love humour and pleasantly, as we'll
as the mcrriest man in The United Sta.es !;
but give me leave TO inform these fine gen
tiemen, that 1t is melancholy symptom,
when they cannot bear the serious nursuit
OF any subject for tzvo minutes together.
tiumour Itself, ii good for any thing, is Sc
rious at the bottom; but what provokes
me, is, that these cuckows are as grave a $
stolcs, and hold ita kind oftreason To laugh:
Tor The old FOLLY IS received, which almost
begun To grow obsolete in ancient come
dies. OF being gen;iemaA like and melan-
choly. Conversation being kind of short
extempore composition, all severe ccnsure
OF what falls from us, profaneness and in.
decency excepted, is ridiculous. Not on
iy sense, but, for the sake of sense, even
nonsense should be tolerated for a
man, who is always afraid of uttering
VIVA may be Interpreted 20 be nonsense,
Will not give his understanding fair play ::
and he will often let the immediate occa-
SON. that would have given grace and
force to his observation, pass bv. lie will
seem, like an awkward militia dis
charging his solitary musket. long at, or
the rest OF the corps; or, at best, supDos.
nag his words to have real w.igh; ant. ster-
ling value, they wall come upon Us unto
wardly, Ike distant Muaaer, which does
NOT reach our ears, till long after the Hash
has taught US TO expect il.
By attending and Observing. modern
conversation, one would be tempted To-
imagine that it was one of the iigs, rrin.
cIples of politeOeas 90 drive all sentiment
and science out o. SC cay. Every Thing
relative 10 mans peculiar Concerns, in
whoa he might suppose his friends and
acquaintance to take some little interest,
IS deemed impairment; and every thing
relative To knowledge s deemed pcdan,lc.
Formerly The honest bottle forced some
rational and spirited conversation, even
rom the most rIotouS company but the
"IF-S2Ns OF our age keep themselves So
Der, TIL the Ca. DIS or dice relieve them
from the cruel necessity Of endeavolino,
t. aa1use each other by conversation. In
the mean time, to put curb on the fancy,
lest the .iti!c ScniHs they have shouldprow
restlye and run away with them, they de
vase their miserable mechanical pieces OF
ridicuie, as restraints on the freedom of
society. | am rather AN old fellow. per-
haps somewhat peevish and | confess il
often puts me quite out Of paueuce, when q
man cries fGfch, at one ofmy stories am
almost provoked to give him slap i'm the
lace and when a puppy seems to measure
my words with stop watch. and, at The
end OF few seconds cries 6ore am al
most ready to call him out, and challenge
him Tor a duel, for his rudeness and i'm
pertlnence.
SIMPLEX.