Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from St. Ronan's Well
In such scenes, too, are frequently mingled characters, not merely ridi culous, but dangerous and hateful. The unprincipled gamester, the heart less fortune-hunter, all those who eke out their means of subsistence by pandering to the vices and follies of the rich and gay-who drive, by their various arts, foibles into crimes, and imprudence into acts of ruinous mad ness, *are to be found where their victims naturallyn'esort, with the same certainty that eagles are gathered together at the place of slaughter. By this the author takes a great advantage for the management of his story, particularly in its darker and more melancholy passages. The impostor, the gambler, all who live loose upon the skirts of society, or, like vermin, thrive by its corruptions, are to be found at such retreats, when they easily, and, as a matter of course, mingle with these dupes, who might otherwise have escaped their snares. But, besides those characters who are actually dangerous to society, a well-frequented watering-place generally exhibits for the amusement of the company, and the perplexity and amazement of the more inexperienced, a sprinkling of persons called by the newspapers eccentric characters - individuals, namely, who, either from some real derangement of their understanding, or, much more frequently, from an excess of vanity, are ambitious of distinguishing themselves by some strik ing peculiarity in dress or address, conversation or manners, and perhaps in all. These affectations are usually adopted, like Drawcansir's extrava gances, to show they dome, and, I must needs say, those who profess them, are more frequently, to be found among the English, than among the natives of either of the other two divisions of the united kingdoms. The reason: probably is, that the consciousness of wealth, and a sturdy feeling of indei pendence, which enerally pervade the English nation, are, in a few indi viduals, perverte into absurdity, or at least peculiarity. The witty Irishman, on the contrary, adapts his general behaviour to that of the best society, or that which he thinks such; nor is it any part of the shrewd Scot's national character unnecessarily to draw upon himself public atten tion. These rules, however, are not without their exceptions for we find men of every country playing the eccentric at these independent resorts of the gay and the wealthy, where every one enjoys the license of doing what is good in his own eyes.
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