would never have it out of my hand. It grieves my heart to see a couple of proud idle flirts sipping their tea for a whole afternoon, in a room hung round with the industry of their great-grand-mother. Pray, sir, take the laudable mystery of embroidery into your serious consideration: and as you have a great deal of the virtue of the last age in you, continue your endeavors to reform the present. "I am, &c." In obedience to the commands of my venerable correspondent, I have duly weighed this important subject, and promise myself, from the arguments here laid down, that all the fine ladies of England will be ready, as soon as their mourning is over (a), to appear covered with the work of their own hands. What a delightful entertainment must it be to the fair sex, whom their native modesty, and the tenderness of men towards them, exempts from public business, to pass their hours in imitating fruits and flowers, and transplanting all the beauties of nature into their own dress, or raising a new creation in their closets and apartments? How pleasing is the amusement of walking among the shades and groves planted by themselves, in surveying heroes slain by their needle, or little Cupids which they have brought into the world without pain! This is, methinks, the most proper way wherein a lady can shew a fine genius; and I cannot forbear wishing, that several writers of that sex had chosen to apply themselves rather to tapestry than rhyme. Your pastoral poetesses may vent their fancy in rural landscapes, and place despairing shepherds under silken willows, or drown them in a stream of mohair. The heroic writers may work up battles as success fully, and inflame them with gold, or stain them with crimson. Even those who have only a turn to a song or an epigram, may put many valuable stitches into a purse, and crowd a thousand graces into a pair of garters. If I may, without breach of good manners, imagine that any pretty creature is void of genius, and would perform her part herein but very awkwardly, I must nevertheless insist upon her working, if it be only to keep her out of harm's way. Another argument for busying good women in works of fancy, is because it takes them off from scandal, the usual attendant of tea-tables, and all other unactive scenes of life. While they are forming their birds and beasts, their neighbors will be allowed to be the fathers of their own children; and Whig and Tory will be but seldom mentioned, where the great dispute is, whether blue or red is the more proper color. How much greater glory would Sophronia do the general, if she would choose rather to work the battle of Blenheim in tapestry, than signa-lize herself with so much vehemence against those who are Frenchmen in their hearts. A third reason that I shall mention, is the profit. that is brought to the family where these pretty arts are encouraged. It is manifest that this way of life not only keeps fair ladies from running out into expences, but is at the same time an actual improvement.. How memorable would that matron be, who should have it inscribed upon her monument," That she wrought out the whole Bible in tapestry, and died in a good old age, after having covered three hundred yards of wall in the mansion-house.' The premises being considered, I humbly submit the following proposals to all mothers in Great-Britain.. I. That no young virgin whatsoever be allowe receive the addresses of her first lover but in a su her own embroidering. II. That before every fresh humble servant, be obliged to appear with a new stomacher at least. III. That no one be actually married, till she the child-bed pillows, &c. ready stitched, as like the mantle for the boy quite finished. These laws, if I mistake not, would effectually store the decayed art of needle-work, and make virgins of Great-Britain exceedingly nimble-finge in their business. There is a memorable custom the Grecian ladies, in this particular, preserved Homer, which I hope will have a very good ef with my country-women. A widow, in ancient tin could not, without indecency, receive a second band till she had woven a shroud for her decea lord, or the next of kin to him. Accordingly, chaste Penelope having, as she thought, lost Ulys at sea, she employed her time in preparing a windi sheet for Laertes, the father of her husband. T story of her web being very famous, and yet not su ciently known in its several circumstances, I sh give it to my reader, as Homer makes one of wooers relate it. 'Sweet hope she gave to every youth apart, 'Of curious texture, and perplex'd design: My youths, she cry'd, my lord but newly dead, 'Forbear awhile to court my widow'd bed, ''Till I have woven, as solemn vows require, This web, a shroud for poor Ulysses' sire. His limbs. when fate the hero's soul demands, Lest all the dames of Greece my name despise, 'While the great king without a covering lies. Thus she. Nor did my friends mistrust the guile; 'All day she sped the long laborious toil; But when the burning lamps supply'd the sun, 'Each night unravell'd what the day begun. 'Three live-long summers did the fraud prevail, "The fourth her maidens told th' amazing tale. 'These eyes beheld, as close I took my stand, 'The backward labors of her faithless hand; ''Till watch'd at length, and press'd on ev'ry side, 'Her task she ended, and commenc'd a bride.' "MR. SPECTATOR, HAVIN ANON. AVING in your paper of Monday last published my report on the case of Mrs. Fanny Fickle, wherein I have taken notice, that love comes after mar riage; I hope your readers are satisfied of this truth, that as love generally produces matrimony, so it often happens that matrimony produces love.. "It perhaps requires more virtues to make a good husband or wife, than what go to the finishing any the most shining character whatsoever. "Discretion seems absolutely necessary; and accordingly we find, that the best husbands have been most famous for their wisdom. Homer, who hath drawn a perfect pattern of a prudent man, to make it the more complete, hath celebrated him for the just returns of fidelity and truth to his Penelope ; insomuch that he refused the caresses of a goddess for her sake, and, to use the expression of the best of Pagan authors, Vetulam suam prætulit immortalitati, "his old woman was dearer to him than immortality." |