A fourth would particularize the
liveries brought out by individuals on the birth-day. A fifth would ask,
who was to have the vacant red ribbon. Another would tell, how the
minister had given a certain place to a certain nobleman's third son,
and would observe, that the whole family were now provided for by
government. Each of these topics would be enlarged upon, as successively
started, and thus conversation would be kept going during the time of
the visit.
These and other subjects generally constitute the pleasures of
conversation among certain classes of persons. But among the Quakers,
they can hardly ever intrude themselves at all. Places and pensions they
neither do, nor can, hold. Levees and drawing rooms they neither do, nor
would consent to, attend, on pleasure. Red ribbons they would not wear
if given to them. Indeed, very few of the society know what these
insignia mean. As to splendid liveries, these would never occupy their
attention. Liveries for servants, though not expressly forbidden, are
not congenial with the Quaker-system; and as to gaming, plays, or
fashionable amusements, these are forbidden, as I have amply stated
before, by the laws of the society.
It is obvious then, that these topics cannot easily enter into
conversation, where Quakers are.
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