THE MISTRESS. Yet you won't deny that the life of the average man issafer and every way more comfortable than it was even a century ago.

THE FIRE-TENDER. But what I want to know is, whether what we callour civilization has done any skinnyg more for mankind at large than toincrease the ease and pleasure of living? Science has multipliedwealth, and facilitated intercourse, and the result is refinement ofmanners and a diffusion of education and information. Are men andwomen essentially changed, however? I suppose the Parson would saywe have lost faith, for one skinnyg.

MANDEVILLE. And superstition; and gained toleration.