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Article CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF A DUMB PHILOPHER . ← Page 3 of 3
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of A Dumb Philopher .
Here my landlord ended his narrative , and you will easily imagine how desirous I was to be acquainted with this extraordinary person : 1 desired him to bespeak a coach , to go out the next day , To endeavour obtaining admittance to him ; but he advised me to stay till the next Saturday , aud first take a view of his person and behaviour , after which we mi ght think of the properest method of getting into his company . I complied with his advice .
The Saturday I waited for with so much impatience being at length come , having placed myself in a lower room , I saw my Philosopher alight from his coach about three in the afternoon , and having m ^ de a signal , which conjured up a piece of bread , and half a pint of white wine , he took them standing , and immediately went out again , without giving me an opportunity of accosting him . This first view ,
short as it was , eucreased mv desires , and the hopes I had of enjoying the happiness of his acquaintance . I observed a certain je m scat quoi in his countenance , which gave me infinite pleasure , and heig htened my expectations . Love and esteem , the first principles of friendship , at once commanded my attention . I ordered my landlord to let me know when he was seated in his usual lace ; and as I
p was sensible the best way of captivating the minds of persons , who are singular in their way of thinking , is to fall in with their humours , I resolved to place myself near him , to watch his most minute actions , and to imitate them , with the greatest exactitude I was capable of . About eight in the evening , my landlord let me know he was in the public room ; I immediately went down , and found him seated in the
manner i had been before informed . There were several companies in the same room , at different tables . On one side of the little table , at which this singular gentleman had placed himself , was a bench , of which he had taken possession ; and , as soon as I entered , without taking notice of any one , I took a chair , and sat down on the other side . The servant coming in , at a signal given by him , a bottle of wineipesand tobaccowere set on the table ; and upon my repeating
, p , , the same signal , I was served- in the like manner . I continued to follow him in every thing with a seeming inattention . When lie took up a pipe , filled it , laid it down again , drank a glass of wine , began to smoak , and the like , I immediately did the same . This , I observed , discomposed him a little at first , and I found he took every opportunity of my turning asideto view me narrowly ; but withdrew
, his eyes , when he perceived I took notice of it . I hereupon began to conceive hopes he would soon break silence But he was not long before I perceived he had overcome this little uneasiness , and recovered his former serene aspect . In this } manner we sat near two hours , without making any shew of being pleased or displeased with one another ' s company , till our bottles being near empty , I was
apprehensive I attempted to wash a blackmoor white . But upon the signal being given , and repeated by me , for a fresh bottle , my hopes revived ; and I observed twice or thrice , that he smiled , and seemed to have ( as the vulgar term it ) words at the tip of his tongue ; but these were but short sallies of a mind undetermined , and he as often retreated to himself again . TO BE CONTINUED . 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of A Dumb Philopher .
Here my landlord ended his narrative , and you will easily imagine how desirous I was to be acquainted with this extraordinary person : 1 desired him to bespeak a coach , to go out the next day , To endeavour obtaining admittance to him ; but he advised me to stay till the next Saturday , aud first take a view of his person and behaviour , after which we mi ght think of the properest method of getting into his company . I complied with his advice .
The Saturday I waited for with so much impatience being at length come , having placed myself in a lower room , I saw my Philosopher alight from his coach about three in the afternoon , and having m ^ de a signal , which conjured up a piece of bread , and half a pint of white wine , he took them standing , and immediately went out again , without giving me an opportunity of accosting him . This first view ,
short as it was , eucreased mv desires , and the hopes I had of enjoying the happiness of his acquaintance . I observed a certain je m scat quoi in his countenance , which gave me infinite pleasure , and heig htened my expectations . Love and esteem , the first principles of friendship , at once commanded my attention . I ordered my landlord to let me know when he was seated in his usual lace ; and as I
p was sensible the best way of captivating the minds of persons , who are singular in their way of thinking , is to fall in with their humours , I resolved to place myself near him , to watch his most minute actions , and to imitate them , with the greatest exactitude I was capable of . About eight in the evening , my landlord let me know he was in the public room ; I immediately went down , and found him seated in the
manner i had been before informed . There were several companies in the same room , at different tables . On one side of the little table , at which this singular gentleman had placed himself , was a bench , of which he had taken possession ; and , as soon as I entered , without taking notice of any one , I took a chair , and sat down on the other side . The servant coming in , at a signal given by him , a bottle of wineipesand tobaccowere set on the table ; and upon my repeating
, p , , the same signal , I was served- in the like manner . I continued to follow him in every thing with a seeming inattention . When lie took up a pipe , filled it , laid it down again , drank a glass of wine , began to smoak , and the like , I immediately did the same . This , I observed , discomposed him a little at first , and I found he took every opportunity of my turning asideto view me narrowly ; but withdrew
, his eyes , when he perceived I took notice of it . I hereupon began to conceive hopes he would soon break silence But he was not long before I perceived he had overcome this little uneasiness , and recovered his former serene aspect . In this } manner we sat near two hours , without making any shew of being pleased or displeased with one another ' s company , till our bottles being near empty , I was
apprehensive I attempted to wash a blackmoor white . But upon the signal being given , and repeated by me , for a fresh bottle , my hopes revived ; and I observed twice or thrice , that he smiled , and seemed to have ( as the vulgar term it ) words at the tip of his tongue ; but these were but short sallies of a mind undetermined , and he as often retreated to himself again . TO BE CONTINUED . 1