Page:Famous history of the whimsical Mr Spectator.pdf/7

( 7 ) together a ſet of oglers, as he called them, conſiſting of ſuch as had an unlucky caſt in their eyes. His diverſion on this occaſion was to ſee the croſs bows miſtaken ſigns, and wrong connivances that paſſed amidſt ſo many broken and refracted rays of ſight.

THE third feaſt which this merry gentleman exhibited was to the ſtammerers, whom he got together in a ſufficient body to fill his table. He had ordered one of his ſervants, who was placed behind a ſcreen, to write down their table-talk, which is very eaſy to be done without the help of a ſhort-band It appears by the notes which were taken, that tho' their converſation never fell, there were not above twenty words ſpoken during the firſt courſe; that upon ſerving up the ſecond, one of the company was a quarter of an hour in telling them that the dockings and ſparrow-graſs were very good, and that another took up the ſame time in declaring himſelf of the ſame opinion. This jeſt did not, however, go off to well as the former; for one of the gueſts being a brave man, and fuller of reſentment than he knew how to expreſs, went out of the room, and ſent the facetious inviter a chalang in writing, which though it was afterwards dropped by the interpoſition of friends put a top to theſe ludicrous entertainments.

Now, Sir, I dare ſay you will agree with me, that as there is no mural in theſe jeſts, they ought