's Clerk, and an Exciseman, both declared, that the Characters of
Lord and Lady Townly were well preserved, and highly in Nature. Partridge
likewise concurred with this Opinion.
    The Master was so highly elated with these Encomiums, that he could not
refrain from adding some more of his own. He said, »The present Age was not
improved in any Thing so much as in their Puppet-shows; which, by throwing out
Punch and his Wife Joan, and such idle Trumpery, were at last brought to be a
rational Entertainment. I remember,« said he, »when I first took to the
Business, there was a great deal of low Stuff that did very well to make Folks
laugh; but was never calculated to improve the Morals of young People, which
certainly ought to be principally aimed at in every Puppet-show: For why may not
good and instructive Lessons be conveyed this Way, as well as any other? My
Figures are as big as the Life, and they represent the Life in every Particular;
and I question not but People rise from my little Drama as much improved as they
do from the great.« »I would by no Means degrade the Ingenuity of your
Profession,« answered Jones; »but I should have been glad to have seen my old
Acquaintance Master Punch for all that; and so far from improving, I think, by
leaving out him and his merry Wife Joan, you have spoiled your Puppet-show.«
    The Dancer of Wires conceived an immediate and high Contempt for Jones, from
these Words. And with much Disdain in his Countenance, he replied, »Very
probably, Sir, that may be your Opinion; but I have the Satisfaction to know the
best Judges differ from you, and it is impossible to please every Taste. I
confess, indeed, some of the Quality at Bath, two or three Years ago, wanted
mightily to bring Punch again upon the Stage. I believe I lost some Money for
not agreeing to it; but let others do as they will, a little Matter shall never
bribe me to degrade my own Profession, nor will I ever willingly consent to the
spoiling the Decency and Regularity of my Stage, by introducing any such low
Stuff upon it.«
    »Right, Friend,« cries the Clerk, »you are very right. Always avoid what is
low. There are several of my Acquaintance in London, who are resolved to drive
every thing which is low from the Stage.« »Nothing can be more proper,« cries
the Exciseman, pulling his Pipe
