304 A TOUR THROUGH
" (replied he, with the utmost contempt) I
" did see some men playing de fiddle—and
" some men playing de fool."
I only infer from this, that it is with
some degree of caution we should ridicule
the customs of other nations: a Sicilian,
perhaps, would laugh with as much justice
at many of our customs;—that, for in-
stance, of obliging people to drink wrhen
they have no inclination to it;—that in the
North, of eating Soland geese before din-
ner, to give them an appetite;—that of
physicians and lawyers wearing enormous
wigs, and many others that will naturally
occur to you, none of which appear in the
least ridiculous to the people that practise
them; who would no doubt defend them
as strenuoussy as the Sicilians do the neces-
sity of carrying slambeaux before them
during the great illumination.-—Indeed,
they have just now given us an admirable
specimea
" (replied he, with the utmost contempt) I
" did see some men playing de fiddle—and
" some men playing de fool."
I only infer from this, that it is with
some degree of caution we should ridicule
the customs of other nations: a Sicilian,
perhaps, would laugh with as much justice
at many of our customs;—that, for in-
stance, of obliging people to drink wrhen
they have no inclination to it;—that in the
North, of eating Soland geese before din-
ner, to give them an appetite;—that of
physicians and lawyers wearing enormous
wigs, and many others that will naturally
occur to you, none of which appear in the
least ridiculous to the people that practise
them; who would no doubt defend them
as strenuoussy as the Sicilians do the neces-
sity of carrying slambeaux before them
during the great illumination.-—Indeed,
they have just now given us an admirable
specimea