es at
an opera or the play-house; which would be a proper deference to the
rest of the audience. In _France_, we are told, it is common for the
_parterre_ to join with the performers in any favorite air: but we seem
to have carried this custom still further, as the company in our boxes,
without concerning themselves in the least with the play, are even
louder than the players.

12. The wit and humour of a _Vanbrugh_, or a _Congreve,_ is frequently
interrupted by a brilliant dialogue between two persons of fashion; and
a love scene in the side box has often been more attended to, than that
on the stage. As to their loud bursts of laughter at the theatre, they
may very well be excused, when they are excited by any lively strokes in
a comedy: but I have seen our ladies titter at the most distressful
scenes in _Romeo_ and _Juliet_, grin over the anguish of a _Monimia_, or
_Belvidera_, and fairly laugh king _Lear_ off the stage.

13. Thus the whole behaviour of these ladies is in direct contradiction
to good manners. They laugh when they should cry, are loud when they
should be silent, and are silent when their conversation is desirable.
If a man in a select company was thus to laugh or whisper me out of
countenance, I should be apt to construe it as an affront, and demand an
explanation.

14. As to the ladies I would desire them to reflect how much they would
suffer, if their own weapons were turned against them, and the gentlemen
should attack them with the same arts of laughing and whispering. But,
however free they may be from our resentment, they are still open to
ill-natured suspicions. They do not consider, what strange constructions
may be put on these laughs and whispers.

15. It were indeed, of little consequence, if we only imagined, that
they were taking the reputation of their acquaintance to pieces, or
abusing the company round; but when they indulge themselves in this
behaviour, some perhaps may be led to conclude, that they are
discoursing upon topics, which they are ashamed to speak of in a less
private manner.

16. If the misconduct which I have described, had been only to be
found, Mr. _Town_, at my friend's table, I should not have troubled you
with this letter: but the same kind of ill breeding prevails too often,
and in too many places. The giglers and the whisperers are innumerable;
they beset us wherever we go; and it is observable, that after a short
murmur of whispers, out comes the burst of l