It
was agreed, upon the condition that the little man should "do the
honor," and that they should return and see the next piece out. The
Captain, of course, yielded to the rejoinder, though it was
inflicting a severe penalty upon his feelings. There was another
piece to come yet, which the little fellow's appetite was as ready
to devour as the first. The Captain, seeing this, could not refrain
expressing his surprise. This was taken as a charge against his
taste, and George immediately commenced a discussion upon the
subject of the piece, the intention of the author, and the merits of
the principal performers, whose proper adaptation he admired. The
Captain knew his subject, and instead of contending in detail,
advised him to take a peep into the theatres of New York and London.
Not to be undone, for he was like all little men, who insist upon
the profoundness of their own opinions, he asserted that it could be
only the different views which individuals entertained of
delineating character, and that the Charlestonians were proverbially
correct in their judgment of music and dramatic performances.
"I pity the judgment that would award merit to such a performance as
that," said the Captain.
"How strange, that you Englishmen and Scotchmen always find fault
with every thing we Americans do. Your writers manifest it in their
books upon us and the people seem of necessity to copy from them,
and echo their grumblings," rejoined Master George.
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