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NO. 212. THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1710.

From my own Apartment, August 16.

I HAVE had much importunity to answer the following letter.

Mr. BICKERSTAFF,

READING over a volume of yours, I find the words fimplex munditiis mentioned as a defeription of a very well-dreffed woman. I beg of you, for the fake of the fex, to explain these terms. I cannot comprehend what my brother means, when he tells me, they fignify my own name, which is,

Sir,

Your humble fervant,

PLAIN ENGLISH.'

I think the lady's brother has given us a very good idea of that elegant expreffion; it being the greatest beauty of fpeech to be close and intelligible. To this end, nothing is to be more carefully confulted than plainnefs. In a lady's attire this is the fingle excellence; for to be, what fome people call, fine, is the fame vice in that cafe, as to be florid is in writing or fpeaking. I have studied and writ on this important fubject, until I almoft defpair of making a reformation in the females of this ifland; where we have more beauty than in any spot in the universe, if we did not difguife it by falfe garniture, and detract from it by impertinent improvements. I have by me a treatife concerning pinners, which, I have fome hopes, will contribute to the amendment of the pre

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fent

fent head-dreffes, to which I have folid and unanswerable objections. But mo of the errors in that, and other particulars of adorning the head, are crept into the world from the ignorance of modern tirewomen; for it is come to that pafs, that an awkward creature in the first year of her apprenticeship, that can hardly ftick a pin, fhall take upon her to drefs a woman of the firft quality. However, it is certain, that there requires in a good tirewoman a perfect skill in optics; for all the force of ornament is to contribute to the intention of the eyes. Thus fhe, who has a mind to look killing, muft arm her face accordingly, and not leave her eyes and cheeks undreffed. There is Araminta, who is fo fenfible of this, that the never will fee even her own husband, without a hood on. Can any one living bear to see mifs Gruel, lean as she is, with her hair tied back after the modern way? But fuch is the folly of our ladies, that because one who is a beauty, out of oftentation of her being fuch, takes care to wear fomething that she knows cannot be of any confequence to her complexion; I fay, our women run on fo heedlefsly in the fashion, that though it is the intereft of fome to hide as much of their faces as poffible, yet because a leading toaft appeared with a backward head-dress, the reft fhall follow the mode, without obferving that the author of the fashion affumed it, because it could become no one but herself.

Flavia is ever well-dreffed, and always the genteeleft woman you meet: but the make of her mind very much contributes to the ornament of her body. She has the greateft fimplicity of manners, of any of her fex. This makes every thing look native about her, and her clothes are so exactly fitted, that they appear, as it were, part of her perfon. Every one that fees her knows her to be of quality; but her diftinction is owing to her manner, and not to her habit. Her beauty is full of attraction, but not of allurement. There is fuch a compofure in her looks, and propriety in her drefs, that you would think it impoffible the fhould change the garb, you one day fee her in, for any thing fo becoming, until you next day fee her in another. There is no other myftery in

this, but that however fhe is apparelled, fhe is herself the fame: for there is fo immediate a relation between our thoughts and geftures, that a woman muft think well to look well.

But this weighty fubject I must put off for fome other matters, in which my correfpondents are urgent for anfwers; which I fhall do where I can, and appeal to the judgment of others where I cannot.

• Mr. BICKERSTAFF,

Auguft 15, 1710.

TAKING the air the other day on horseback in the green lane that leads to Southgate, I difcovered coming towards me a perfon well mounted in a mafk; and I accordingly expected, as any one would, to have been robbed. But when we came up with each other, the fpark, to my greater surprise, very peaceably gave me the way; which made me take courage enough to ask him, if he masqueraded, or how? He made me no answer, but still continued incognito. This was certainly an afs in a lion's fkin; a harmlefs bull-beggar, who delights to fright innocent people, and fet them a galloping. I bethought myself of putting as good a jeft upon him, and had turned my horfe, with a defign to purfue him to London, and get him apprehended, on fufpicion of being a highwayman: but when I reflected, that it was the proper office of the magiftrate to punifh only knaves, and that we had a cenfor of Great Britain for people of another denomination, I immediately determined to profecute him in your court only. This unjuftifiable frolic I take to be neither wit nor humour, therefore hope you will do me, and as many others as were that day frighted, justice.

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< SIR,

"THE gentleman begs your pardon, and frighted you out of fear of frighting you; for he is just come out of the fmall pox.'

• Mr. BICKERSTAFF,

Your diftinction concerning the time of commencing virgins is allowed to be juft. I write you my thanks for it, in the twenty-eighth year of life, and twelfth of my virginity. But I am to ask you another queftion: May a woman be faid to live any more years a maid, than the continues to be courted?

SIR,

I am, &c.'

August 15, 1710.

• I OBSERVE that the Poftman of Saturday laft, giving an account of the action in Spain, has this elegant turn of expreffion; General Stanhope, who in the whole action expreffed as much bravery as conduct, received a contufion in his right fhoulder. I fhould be glad to know, whether this cautious politician means to commend or to rally him, by faying, he expreffed as much bravery as conduct? If you can explain this dubious phrase, it will inform the public, and oblige,

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NO. 213. SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1710.

Sheer-lane, August 18.

THERE has of late crept in among the downright English a mighty fpirit of diffimulation. But before we difcourfe of this vice, it will be neceffary to obferve, that the learned make a difference between fimulation and diffimulation. Simulation is a pretence of what is not, and diffimulation is a concealment of what is. The latter is our present affair. When you look round you in public places in this ifland, you fee the generality of mankind carry in their countenance an air of challenge or defiance; and there is no fuch man, to be found among us, who naturally strives to do greater honours and civilities than he .receives. This innate fullenness or stubbornness of complexion is hardly to be conquered by any of our islanders. For which reafon, however they may pretend to chouse one another, they make but very awkward rogues; and their diflike to each other is feldom fo well diffembled, but it is fufpected. When once it is fo, it had as good be profeffed. A man who diffembles well must have none of what we call ftomach, otherwife he will be cold in his profeffions of good-will where he hates; an imperfection of the laft ill confequence in bufinefs. This fierceness in our natures is apparent from the conduct of our young fellows, who are not got into the fchemes and arts of life which the children of the world walk by. One would think that, of courfe, when a man of any confequence for his figure, his mien, or his gravity, paffes by a youth, he fhould certainly have the first advances of falutation; but he is, you may obferve, treated in a quite different manner; it being the very characteristic of an English temper to defy. As I am an Englishman, I find it a very hard matter to bring myfelf to pull off the hat firft; but it is the only way to be upon any good terms with those we meet with. Therefore the first advance is of high moment. Men judge of others by themselves; and he that "

will

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