The Play-bills, 1830 [ Practices ]
… hope this will not have “ a mean sound,” except in the ears of the mean passions of pride and avarice. For our parts we affect to despise nothing that represents the food and raiment of mothers and children; though we often wonder how great … that are sold at the doors, we have a respect for the common "house-bill," as it is called, that is to say, the old unaffected piece of paper, that contains nothing but the usual announcements,—the play-bill of old, or “bill o’ the play,” …
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Anthology