imitator in Great Britain, France, and Ireland, had the farcy for
his pains; and that there was a good farcical house, large enough to
hold--aye--and sublimate them, shag rag and bob-tail, male and female,
all together: and this leads me to the affair of Whiskers--but, by what
chain of ideas--I leave as a legacy in mort-main to Prudes and Tartufs,
to enjoy and make the most of.

Upon Whiskers.

I'm sorry I made it--'twas as inconsiderate a promise as ever entered
a man's head--A chapter upon whiskers! alas! the world will not
bear it--'tis a delicate world--but I knew not of what mettle it was
made--nor had I ever seen the under-written fragment; otherwise, as
surely as noses are noses, and whiskers are whiskers still (let the
world say what it will to the contrary); so surely would I have steered
clear of this dangerous chapter.

The Fragment.

...--You are half asleep, my good lady, said the old gentleman, taking
hold of the old lady's hand, and giving it a gentle squeeze, as he
pronounced the word Whiskers--shall we change the subject? By no means,
replied the old lady--I like your account of those matters; so throwing
a thin gauze handkerchief over her head, and leaning it back upon the
chair with her face turned towards him, and advancing her two feet as
she reclined herself--I desire, continued she, you will go on.

The old gentleman went on as follows:--Whiskers! cried the queen
of Navarre, dropping her knotting ball, as La Fosseuse uttered the
word--Whiskers, madam, said La Fosseuse, pinning the ball to the queen's
apron, and making a courtesy as she repeated it.

La Fosseuse's voice was naturally soft and low, yet 'twas an articulate
voice: and every letter of the word Whiskers fell distinctly upon the
queen of Navarre's ear--Whiskers! cried the queen, laying a greater
stress upon the word, and as if she had still distrusted her
ears--Whiskers! replied La Fosseuse, repeating the word a third
time--There is not a cavalier, madam, of his age in Navarre, continued
the maid of honour, pressing the page's interest upon the queen, that
has so gallant a pair--Of what? cried Margaret, smiling--Of whiskers,
said La Fosseuse, with infinite modesty.

The word Whiskers still stood its ground, and continued to be made
use of in most of the best companies throughout the little kingdom of
Navarre, notwithstanding the indiscreet use which La Fosseuse had made
of it: the truth was, La Fosseuse had pronounced th