English
AsthemanagerofthePerformancesitsbeforethecurtainontheboardsandlooksintotheFair,afeelingofprofoundmelancholycomesoverhiminhissurveyofthebustlingplace.
Thereisagreatquantityofeatinganddrinking,makingloveandjilting,laughingandthecontrary,smoking,cheating,fighting,dancingandfiddling;therearebulliespushingabout,bucksoglingthewomen,knavespickingpockets,policemenonthelook-out,quacks(OTHERquacks,plaguetakethem!)
bawlinginfrontoftheirbooths,andyokelslookingupatthetinselleddancersandpooroldrougedtumblers,whilethelight-fingeredfolkareoperatingupontheirpocketsbehind.
Yes,thisisVANITYFAIR;notamoralplacecertainly;noramerryone,thoughverynoisy.
Lookatthefacesoftheactorsandbuffoonswhentheycomeofffromtheirbusiness;andTomFoolwashingthepaintoffhischeeksbeforehesitsdowntodinnerwithhiswifeandthelittleJackPuddingsbehindthecanvas.
Thecurtainwillbeuppresently,andhewillbeturningoverheadandheels,andcrying,“Howareyou?”
Amanwithareflectiveturnofmind,walkingthroughanexhibitionofthissort,willnotbeoppressed,Itakeit,byhisownorotherpeople’shilarity.
Anepisodeofhumourorkindnesstouchesandamuseshimhereandthere—aprettychildlookingatagingerbreadstall;aprettygirlblushingwhilstherlovertalkstoherandchoosesherfairing;poorTomFool,yonderbehindthewaggon,mumblinghisbonewiththehonestfamilywhichlivesbyhistumbling;butthegeneralimpressionisonemoremelancholythanmirthful.
Whenyoucomehomeyousitdowninasober,contemplative,notuncharitableframeofmind,andapplyyourselftoyourbooksoryourbusiness.
Ihavenoothermoralthanthistotagtothepresentstoryof“VanityFair.”
SomepeopleconsiderFairsimmoralaltogether,andeschewsuch,withtheirservantsandfamilies:verylikelytheyareright.
Butpersonswhothinkotherwise,andareofalazy,orabenevolent,orasarcasticmood,mayperhapsliketostepinforhalfanhour,andlookattheperformances.
Therearescenesofallsorts;somedreadfulcombats,somegrandandloftyhorse-riding,somescenesofhighlife,andsomeofverymiddlingindeed;somelove-makingforthesentimental,andsomelightcomicbusiness;thewholeaccompaniedbyappropriatesceneryandbrilliantlyilluminatedwiththeAuthor’sowncandles.
WhatmorehastheManagerofthePerformancetosay?
—ToacknowledgethekindnesswithwhichithasbeenreceivedinalltheprincipaltownsofEnglandthroughwhichtheShowhaspassed,andwhereithasbeenmostfavourablynoticedbytherespectedconductorsofthepublicPress,andbytheNobilityandGentry.
HeisproudtothinkthathisPuppetshavegivensatisfactiontotheverybestcompanyinthisempire.
ThefamouslittleBeckyPuppethasbeenpronouncedtobeuncommonlyflexibleinthejoints,andlivelyonthewire;theAmeliaDoll,thoughithashadasmallercircleofadmirers,hasyetbeencarvedanddressedwiththegreatestcarebytheartist;theDobbinFigure,thoughapparentlyclumsy,yetdancesinaveryamusingandnaturalmanner;theLittleBoys’Dancehasbeenlikedbysome;andpleasetoremarktherichlydressedfigureoftheWickedNobleman,onwhichnoexpensehasbeenspared,andwhichOldNickwillfetchawayattheendofthissingularperformance.
Andwiththis,andaprofoundbowtohispatrons,theManagerretires,andthecurtainrises.
LONDON,June28,1848
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