Page:Famous history of the whimsical Mr Spectator.pdf/8

( 6 ) to be diſcouraged, and looked upon rather pieces of unlukineſs than wit. However, as is natural for one man to refine upon the though of another, and impoſſible or any ſingle perſo how great ſoever his parts may be, to inve an art, and bring it to its utmoſt perfection I ſhall here give you an account of an hom gentlemen of my acquaintance, who, up hearing he character of the wit above mentioned, he himſelf aſſumed it, and endeavoured convert it to the benefit of kind. He inv ed half a dozen of his friends one day to dinn who were each of the famous for inferti ſeveral redundant praſes in their diſcourſe, d'y hear me d ye ſe that is, and ſo Sir. Each the gueſts making frequent uſe or his particul elegance appeared to rediculous to his neighbour, that could not but reflect upon himſ as appearing equally rediculous to the reſt of company: by this means, before they had long together, every one talking with the greateſt circumſpection, and carefully avoiding favourite expletive, the converſation was cleared of its redundancies. and had a greater quantity of ſenſe. though leſs of found in it.

THE ſame well-meaning gentleman took occaſion, at another time, and bring together ſu of his friends as were addicted to a fooliſh ha tual cuſtom of ſwearing. In der to ſhew the the abſurity of the practice, he had recourſe the invention above-mentioned, having plac