There is nothing so foolish, when you are at the expence of making an entertainment of this kind, as to order things so badly, as to let your criticks and gentry of refined taste run it down: Nor is there anything so likely to make them do it, as that of leaving them out of the party, or, what is full as offensive, of bestowing your attention upon the rest of your guests in so particular a way, as if there was no such thing as a critick (by occupation) at table.
----I guard against both; for, in the first place, I have left half a dozen places purposely open for them; --and in the next place, I pay them all court. --Gentlemen, I kiss your hands, I protest no company could give me half the pleasure, --by my soul I am glad to see you ------I beg only you will make no strangers of yourselves, but sit down without any ceremony, and fall on heartily.
I said I had left six places, and I was upon the point of carrying my complaisance so far, as to have left a seventh open for them, --and in this very spot I stand on; but being told by a Critick (tho' not by occupation, --but by nature) that I had acquitted myself well enough, I shall fill it up directly, hoping, in the meantime, that I shall be able to make a great deal of more room next year.
------How, in the name of wonder! could your uncle _Toby_, who, it seems, was a military man, and whom you have represented as no fool, ----be at the same time such a confused, pudding-headed, muddle-headed, fellow, as --Go look.

There is nothing so foolish, when you are making an entertainment of this kind, as to let your critics run it down. Nor is there anything so likely to make them do it, as leaving them out of the party, or bestowing your attention upon the rest of your guests, and ignoring the critics at your table.
- I guard against both; for, in the first place, I have left half a dozen places purposely open for them; and in the next place, I pay them all court.
- Gentlemen, I kiss your hands; no company could give me half the pleasure, - by my soul I am glad to see you. - Sit down, and fall on heartily.
I said I had left six places, and I was about to have left a seventh open for them; but being told by a Critic that I had acquitted myself well enough, I shall fill it up directly, and make more room next year.
'How, in the name of wonder! could your uncle Toby, a military man, whom you have represented as no fool, be such a confused, pudding-headed, muddle-brained fellow, as-'
Go look.
