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Vanity Fair
by William Makepeace Thackeray
BEFORE THE CURTAIN
As the manager of the Performance sits before the curtain
on the boards and looks into the Fair； a feeling of profound
melancholy comes over him in his survey of the bustling place。
There is a great quantity of eating and drinking； making love
and jilting； laughing and the contrary； smoking； cheating；
fighting； dancing and fiddling； there are bullies pushing about；
bucks ogling the women； knaves picking pockets； policemen
on the look…out； quacks （OTHER quacks； plague take them！）
bawling in front of their booths； and yokels looking up at
the tinselled dancers and poor old rouged tumblers； while the
light…fingered folk are operating upon their pockets behind。
Yes； this is VANITY FAIR； not a moral place certainly； nor a
merry one； though very noisy。 Look at the faces of the actors
and buffoons when they come off from their business； and
Tom Fool washing the paint off his cheeks before he sits down
to dinner with his wife and the little Jack Puddings behind
the canvas。 The curtain will be up presently； and he will be
turning over head and heels； and crying； 〃How are you？〃
A man with a reflective turn of mind； walking through an
exhibition of this sort； will not be oppressed； I take it； by his
own or other people's hilarity。 An episode of humour or kindness
touches and amuses him here and therea pretty child
looking at a gingerbread stall； a pretty girl blushing whilst her
lover talks to her and chooses her fairing； poor Tom Fool；
yonder behind the waggon； mumbling his bone with the honest
family which lives by his tumbling； but the general impression
is one more melancholy than mirthful。 When you come home
you sit down in a sober； contemplative； not uncharitable frame
of mind； and apply yourself to your books or your business。
I have no other moral than this to tag to the present story
of 〃Vanity Fair。〃 Some people consider Fairs immoral altogether；
and eschew such； with their servants and families： very
likely they are right。 But persons who think otherwise； and are
of a lazy； or a benevolent； or a sarcastic mood； may perhaps
like to step in for half an hour； and look at the performances。
There are scenes of all sorts； some dreadful combats； some
grand and lofty horse…riding； some scenes of high life； and
some of very middling indeed； some love…making for the
sentimental； and some light comic business； the whole
accompanied by appropriate scenery and brilliantly illuminated
with the Author's own candles。
What more has the Manager of the Performance to say？
To acknowledge the kindness with which it has been received
in all the principal towns of England through which the Show
has passed； and where it has been most favourably noticed by
the respected conductors of the public Press； and by the Nobility
and Gentry。 He is proud to think that his Puppets have given
satisfaction to the very best company in this empire。 The
famous little Becky Puppet has been pronounced to be uncommonly
flexible in the joints； and lively on the wire； the Amelia
Doll； though it has had a smaller circle of admirers； has yet
been carved and dressed with the greatest care by the artist； the
Dobbin Figure； though apparently clumsy； yet dances in a very
amusing and natural manner； the Little Boys' Dance has been
liked by some； and please to remark the richly dressed figure
of the Wicked Nobleman； on which no expense has been
spared； and which Old Nick will fetch away at the end of this
singular performance。
And with this； and a profound bow to his patrons； the
Manager retires； and the curtain rises。
LONDON； June 28； 1848