&94 EXTRACTS FROM 



of ladies in the niceft manner ; they do their utmofi: to 

 ape them in every particular, and give their voice the 

 foftnefs and melody of that fex, even when they can- 

 not alter its deeper tone ; in fhort, they ftrive as far as 

 in their power lies, to diveft themfeives entirely of their 

 fex. They are as enamoured of every new fafhion as 

 any woman in the world can be ; they employ the firft- 

 rate milliners to drefs and adorn them ; and the princi- 

 pal acTrefs of a theatre is, very fuccefsful when flie 

 makes fo complete a figure. 



As to the under-parts, they, generally fpeaking, are 

 not fo well rilled ; and it is not to be denied, that Co- 

 lumbine is often unable entirely to conceal her blue- 

 beard. But as great improprieties are feen in the gene- 

 rality of the reft of the theatres, in refpecl: to the un- 

 der-parts ; and, excepting in the very capitals of other 

 kingdoms., where greater care is taken of the ftage, 

 there is frequently much reafon to complain of the un- 

 ikilfulnefs of performers of the third and fourth 

 orders, and of the failure in the illufion that this 

 occalions, 



I attended the roman theatre not free from prejudice : 

 but I foon found myfelf reconciled, without thinking 

 of it ; I felt a pleafure hitherto unknown to me, and I 

 remarked that many others Ihared in it likewife. I 

 ftrove to find out the caufe ; and it feems to be : that 

 in this reprefentation, the idea of imitation, the fenti- 

 ment of art, always remain alert, and by the proper 

 performance only one kind of confeious illulion is pro- 

 duced. 



We recollect to have feen an expert young man on 

 the London ftage, perform old characters with the 



complete!! 



