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Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

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BECOMING AMERICA<br />

REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE<br />

LETITIA<br />

Our ladies chat and irt so agreeably.<br />

CHARLOTTE<br />

<strong>An</strong>d our beaux simper and bow so gracefully.<br />

With their hair so trim and neat.<br />

<strong>An</strong>d their faces so s<strong>of</strong>t and sleek.<br />

LETITIA<br />

CHARLOTTE<br />

Their buckles so <strong>to</strong>nish and bright.<br />

LETITIA<br />

CHARLOTTE<br />

<strong>An</strong>d their hands so slender and white.<br />

LETITIA<br />

I vow, Charlotte, we are quite poetical.<br />

CHARLOTTE<br />

<strong>An</strong>d then, brother, the faces <strong>of</strong> the beaux are <strong>of</strong> such a lily-white hue! None <strong>of</strong> that<br />

horrid robustness <strong>of</strong> constitution, that vulgar corn-fed glow <strong>of</strong> health, which can<br />

only serve <strong>to</strong> alarm an unmarried lady with apprehension, and prove a melancholy<br />

memen<strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong> a married one, that she can never hope for the happiness <strong>of</strong> being a<br />

widow. I will say this <strong>to</strong> the credit <strong>of</strong> our city beaux, that such is the delicacy <strong>of</strong><br />

their complexion, dress, and address, that, even had I no reliance upon the honour<br />

<strong>of</strong> the dear Adonises, I would trust myself in any possible situation with them,<br />

without the least apprehensions <strong>of</strong> rudeness.<br />

Sister Charlotte!<br />

MANLY<br />

CHARLOTTE<br />

Now, now, now, brother [interrupting him], now don’t go <strong>to</strong> spoil my mirth with a<br />

dash <strong>of</strong> your gravity; I am so glad <strong>to</strong> see you, I am in tip<strong>to</strong>p spirits. Oh! that you could<br />

be with us at a little snug party. There is Billy Simper, Jack Chae, and Colonel Van<br />

Titter, Miss Promonade, and the two Miss Tambours, sometimes make a party,<br />

with some other ladies, in a side-box at the play. Everything is conducted with<br />

such decorum. First we bow round <strong>to</strong> the company in general, then <strong>to</strong> each one in<br />

particular, then we have so many inquiries after each other’s health, and we are so<br />

happy <strong>to</strong> meet each other, and it is so many ages since we last had that pleasure,<br />

Page | 598

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