It was a sublime lithograph, and produced scarcely less
important effects upon Popanilla's fortune than that lucky 'lock of
hair;' for no sooner was the portrait published than Popanilla received
a ticket for the receptions of a lady of quality. On showing it to
Skindeep, he was told that the honour was immense, and therefore he must
go by all means. Skindeep regretted that he could not accompany him,
but he was engaged to a lecture on shoemaking; and a lecture was a thing
he made it a point never to miss, because, as he very properly observed,
'By lectures you may become extremely well informed without any of the
inconveniences of study. No fixity of attention, no continuity of
meditation, no habits of reflection, no aptitude of combination, are the
least requisite; all which things only give you a nervous headache; and
yet you gain all the results of all these processes. True it is that
that which is so easily acquired is not always so easily remembered; but
what of that? Suppose you forget any subject, why then you go to
another lecture.
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