on the evening of his presentation day his excellency the fantaisian ambassador and suite honoured the national theatre with their presence. such a house was never known! the pit was miraculously over-flown before the doors were opened, although the proprietor did not permit a single private entrance. the enthusiasm was universal, and only twelve persons were killed. the private secretary told popanilla, with an air of great complacency, that the vraibleusian theatres were the largest in the world. popanilla had little doubt of the truth of this information, as a long time elapsed before he could even discover the stage. he observed that every person in the theatre carried a long black glass, which he kept perpetually fixed to his eye. to sit in a huge room hotter than a glass-house, in a posture emulating the most sanctified faquir, with a throbbing head-ache, a breaking back, and twisted legs, with a heavy tube held over one eye, and the other covered with the unemployed hand, is in vraibleusia called a public amusement.
the play was by the most famous dramatist that vraibleusia ever produced; and certainly, when his excellency witnessed the first scenes, it was easier to imagine that he was once more in his own sunset isle of fantaisie than in the railroad state of vraibleusia: but, unfortunately, this evening the principal characters and scenes were omitted, to make room for a moving panorama, which lasted some hours, of the chief and most recent vraibleusian victories. the audience fought their battles o’er again with great fervour. during the play one of the inferior actors was supposed to have saluted a female chorus-singer with an ardour which was more than theatrical, and every lady in the house immediately fainted; because, as the eternal secretary told popanilla, the vraibleusians are the most modest and most moral nation in the world. the male part of the audience insisted, in indignant terms, that the offending performer should immediately be dismissed. in a few minutes he appeared upon the stage to make a most humble apology for an offence which he was not conscious of having committed; but the most moral and the most modest of nations was implacable, and the wretch was expelled. having a large family dependent upon his exertions, the actor, according to a custom prevalent in vraibleusia, went immediately and drowned himself in the nearest river. then the ballet commenced.
it was soon discovered that the chief dancer, a celebrated foreigner, who had been announced for this evening, was absent. the uproar was tremendous, and it was whispered that the house would be pulled down; because, as popanilla was informed, the vraibleusians are the most particular and the freest people in the world, and never will permit themselves to be treated with disrespect. the principal chandelier having been destroyed, the manager appeared, and regretted that signor zephyrino, being engaged to dine with a grandee of the first class, was unable to fulfil his engagement. the house became frantic, and the terrified manager sent immediately for the signor. the artist, after a proper time had elapsed, appeared with a napkin round his neck and a fork in his hand, with which he stood some moments, until the uproar had subsided, picking his teeth. at length, when silence was obtained, he told them that he was surprised that the most polished and liberal nation in the world should behave themselves in such a brutal and narrow-minded manner. he threatened them that he would throw up his engagement immediately, and announce to all foreign parts that they were a horde of barbarians; then, abusing them for a few seconds in round terms, be retired, amidst the cheerings of the whole house, to finish his wine.
when the performances were finished the audience rose and joined in chorus. on popanilla inquiring the name and nature of this effusion, he was told that it was the national air of the isle of fantaisie, sung in compliment to himself. his excellency shrugged his shoulders and bowed low.
the next morning, attended by his suite, popanilla visited the most considerable public offices and manufactories in hubbabub. he was received in all places with the greatest distinction. he was invariably welcomed either by the chiefs of the department or the proprietors themselves, and a sumptuous collation was prepared for him in every place. his excellency evinced the liveliest interest in everything that was pointed out to him, and instantaneously perceived that the vraibleusians exceeded the rest of the world in manufactures and public works as much as they did in arms, morals, modesty, philosophy, and politics. the private secretary being absent upon his postscript, popanilla received the most satisfactory information upon all subjects from the marquess himself. whenever he addressed any question to his lordship, his noble attendant, with the greatest politeness, begged him to take some refreshment. popanilla returned to his hotel with a great admiration of the manner in which refined philosophy in vraibleusia was applied to the common purposes of life; and found that he had that morning acquired a general knowledge of the chief arts and sciences, eaten some hundred sandwiches, and tasted as many bottles of sherry.
