although he may have
slightly erred in one or two passages on the latter score, he condemns
all such seasoning of humour, which is used, as he says, to compensate
for want of invention. In his plays, there is much good broad-humoured
fun without anything offensive. Simple devices such as Tony Lumpkin's
causing a manor-house to be mistaken for an inn, produces much harmless
amusement. It is noteworthy that the first successful work of Goldsmith
was his "Citizen of the World." Here the correspondence of a Chinaman in
England with one of his friends in his own country, affords great scope
for humour, the manners and customs of each nation being regarded
according to the views of the other. The intention is to show
absurdities on the same plan which led afterwards to the popularity of
"Hadji Baba in England." Sometimes the faults pointed out seem real,
sometimes the criticism is meant to be oriental and ridiculous. Thus
going to an English theatre he observes--

"The richest, in general, were placed in the lowest seats, and the
poor rose above them in degrees proportionate to their poverty. The
order of precedence seemed here inverted; those who were undermost
all the day, enjoyed a temporary eminence and became masters of the
ceremonies. It was they who called for the music, indulging every
noisy freedom, and testifying all the insolence of beggary in
exaltation."

Real censure is intended in the following, which shows the change in
ladies dress within the last few years--

"What chiefly distinguishes the sex at present is the train. As a
lady's quality or fashion was once determined here by the
circumference of her hoop, both are now measured by the length of
her tail. Women of moderate fortunes are contented with tails
moderately long, but ladies of tone, taste, and distinction set no
bounds to their ambition in this particular. I am told the Lady
Mayoress on days of ceremony carries one longer than a bell-wether
of Bantam, whose tail, you know, is trundled along in a
wheelbarrow."

A "little beau" discoursing with the Chinaman, observes--

"I am told your Asiatic beauties are the most convenient women
alive, for they have no souls; positively there is nothing in
nature I should like so much as women without souls; soul here is
the utter ruin of half the sex. A girl of eighteen shall have soul
enough to spend a