 | The works of Washington Irving |  |
BACHELORS.
In pleasant plight doth pass his daies,
Goodfellowship and companie
He doth maintain and keep alwaies.
Evan's Old Ballads.
There is no character in the comedy
of human life that is more difficult to
play well, than that of an old bachelor.
When a single gentleman, therefore, arrives
at that critical period, when he
begins to consider it an impertinent question
to be asked his age, I would advise
him to look well to his ways. This
period, it is true, is much later with some
men than with others; I have witnessed
more than once the meeting of two
wrinkled old lads of this kind, who had
not seen each other for several years,
and have been amused by the amicable
exchange of compliments on each other's
appearance that takes place on such occasions.
There is always one invariable
observation; "Why, bless my soul! you
look younger than when last I saw you!"
Whenever a man's friends begin to compliment
him about looking young, he
may be sure that they think he is growing
old.
I am led to make these remarks by
the conduct of Master Simon and the
general, who have become great croni