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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Excerpt from A Book of Burlesque, Sketches of English Stage Travestie and Parody About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

"Self-respect: The secure feeling that no one, as yet, is suspicious."-page 70Why is it that when reading Mencken one feels that they'd be more comfortable if they were wearing a flak jacket? Once again, in his 'A Book of Burlesques,' Mencken, the master of irreverence, gives forth a collection of philosophical sayings running the gamut from downright boring to uproariously hilarious. Now I'm looking forward to reading his 'In Defense of Women.' I'm sure that women-hood will never be in more need of defending than after reading what H. L. has to say in their defense.Recommendation: 'A Book of Burlesques' offers a glimpse into the warped mind of Mencken. That may not be everyone's cup of pomegranate wine. Read at your own risk."Man weeps to think that he will die so soon. Woman, that she was born so long ago."-page 72Excerpt from "A Book of BurlesqueBy William Davenport Adams":Shall I to Honor or to Love give way? Go on, cries Honor; tender Love says, Nay; Honor aloud commands, Pluck both boots on; But softer Love does whisper, Put on none.In the end, he "goes out hopping, with one boot on, and t'other off." Again, there was a passage in the drama called "The Villain," in which the host supplied his guests with a collation out of his clothes--a capon from his helmet, cream out of his scabbard, and so on. In like manner, Pallas, in Mr. Bayes's tragedy, furnishes forth the two usurping kings:--Lo, from this conquering lance Does flow the purest wine of France: And to appease your hunger, I Have in my helmet brought a pie; Lastly, to bear a part with these, Behold a buckler made of cheese.Of the direct parody in the burlesque a few instances will suffice.

Who shall say when the spirit of burlesque first made its appearance on our stage? There were traces of it, we may be sure, in the Mysteries and Moralities of pre-Elizabethan days; the monkish dramatists were not devoid of humour, and the first lay playwrights had a rough sense of ridicule. The "Vice" which figured in so many of our rude old dramas had in him an element of satire, and the pictures drawn of his Satanic Majesty were conscious or unconscious caricatures of the popular conception of the Evil One.