Book 9780461893335

The Touch-Stone: Or, Historical, Critical, Political, Philosophical, And Theological Essays On The Reigning Diversions Of The Town. by James Ralph. This satirical miscellany surveys the entertainments and diversions of London life in the early 18th century, focusing on music, drama, dance, masquerades, and public spectacles. It opens with a prefatory Introduction and a lengthy Preface setting out the author’s method of criticism and his self-portrayal as a cosmopolitan, well-traveled observer of Europe’s arts. The core essays critique the rise and fall of various entertainments—from Italian operas and Greek/Roman choruses to bear-garden shows, prizefights, and masquerades—arguing for reform and better public taste while defending or reinterpreting certain forms for moral and educational ends. The author mingles historical scrutiny with humorous biographical asides, proposing innovations such as new staging, better management of audiences, and social schemes to align cultural consumption with national improvement. Throughout, the work blends cultural history with polemical wit to probe politics, religion, and taste in town life.