He That Would Have His Window Open Must Hold It With His
Hand, Unless What May Be Sometimes Found Among Good Contrivers,
There Be A Nail Which He May Stick Into A Hole, To Keep It From
Falling.
What cannot be done without some uncommon trouble or particular
expedient, will not often be done at all.
The incommodiousness of
the Scotch windows keeps them very closely shut. The necessity of
ventilating human habitations has not yet been found by our
northern neighbours; and even in houses well built and elegantly
furnished, a stranger may be sometimes forgiven, if he allows
himself to wish for fresher air.
These diminutive observations seem to take away something from the
dignity of writing, and therefore are never communicated but with
hesitation, and a little fear of abasement and contempt. But it
must be remembered, that life consists not of a series of
illustrious actions, or elegant enjoyments; the greater part of our
time passes in compliance with necessities, in the performance of
daily duties, in the removal of small inconveniences, in the
procurement of petty pleasures; and we are well or ill at ease, as
the main stream of life glides on smoothly, or is ruffled by small
obstacles and frequent interruption. The true state of every
nation is the state of common life. The manners of a people are
not to be found in the schools of learning, or the palaces of
greatness, where the national character is obscured or obliterated
by travel or instruction, by philosophy or vanity; nor is public
happiness to be estimated by the assemblies of the gay, or the
banquets of the rich.
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