Page:The Clergyman's Wife.djvu/365

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Manner Mutations.
363

parel. When an actor is attiring himself for the stage, we well know, that at the moment he endues himself with the costume suited to his part, the spirit of personation comes upon him; he readily imagines himself to be the individual he is "making himself up" to represent. The Lipscomes are only players on the world's great stage,—bedizened puppets of the hour,—admirable shams, robed to enact the parts of lady and gentleman. You meet them every day under many names, and never suspect the imposture. See them en déshabille and you may always discover the cheat. Were the characters they assume their own, refinement, good breeding, grace, would be apparent in any attire, however simple, or humble, or even disordered.