"practised but by exceeding fine Women, and your very knowing ones indeed, and is no more "than first drawing them on to make a declara. "tion, and then leaving them in the lurch. Fuz

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zing, though frequently practised at the Whift"Table by the best bred people in the World, " is not so common in Love-Matters, except a

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mong Parsons', Justices, and Farmers' Daugh"ters in the Country, who, not finding a plenti. "ful Crop of Admirers, gather midsummer roses, "fow Hemp feed and eat dumb cake for luck."

I laughed heartily at my lively Visiter's explanations of her terms, which I thought were delivered with much fancy and some justness, and I rose from my great Chair, and thanked her in the best manner I was able. She smiled and faid, "Now don't be wicked and make discoveries "among the young Fellows of your acquaintance, " for positively I never would have told you fo " much, only I thought you were too far advanced " in Life to make any advantages of these secrets' "I have disclosed:" - but, my dear Harriot, 'tis time to leave the Philofopher to his own Contemplations- here's Giddy almost dead with the Vapours-aye do, let's go to Garr's, faid Giddy, I have tumbled over every Mercer's Luftrings in Town this Season but his, and I cannot go quietly into the Country till I have seen all. I then waited

waited on them down Stairs; and though I was mightily pleased to have three such Girls seen tripping out of the House I lodge in, I could not help being fomewhat anxious about Harriot, under the guidance of such an experienced. Instructress - what a game may she not play? but she has no doubt been long acquainted with all these tricks, and is a knowing one already; - an ignorant young woman in this enlightned age is rara avis in terris. - Their chearful prattle, however, diverted me so agreeably, that I was in a very pleasant mood the rest of the day. People may say what they will, but there is a charm in a Woman's Company, that makes a Man, aye, even an old Man, quite another thing.

NUMB. XXI. Saturday, July 31, 1756.

Not one, but all Mankind's Epitome. DRYDEN.

T

HOUGH I am very ready to allow, that many of the present ridiculous modes of Dress were originally imported from our fantastic neighbours the French, I think the French alone are not to be censured for every extravagant Fashion we run into.

The

The induftrious, indefatigable Britons, have long been culling from the various Inhabitants of the Earth, a moiety of their Habits, and their -Manners: As our Commerce supplies us at home with the Productions, and the Manufactures of every peopled corner of the Universe, it also affords us an opportunity to adopt for our own ufe, and naturalize whatever Dress the Genius or Climate of Foreigners may oblige them to appear in. Thus we are in some measure a Nation of Harlequins, and like Æfop's Jack-daw, artfully pilfer from every Community a certain portion of their attire, which when altered and arranged according to our Taste and Fancy, seems to be a motley compound of fingularities. To fave ourselves the ennui of studying that fort of vesture which might be adapted with propriety to our own Atmosphere, we fuffer ourselves to be entirely governed by the Freaks and Whims of other Folks. By this means, our Garb becomes a foolish epitome of the Chinese, the French, the Spanish, the Persian, the Muscovite, and the Italian. As our modern fine Gentleman has a fuit for every Month in the Year; the Ladies have also their change of Habiliments, not only for every Month in the Year, but for every Hour of the Day and Night. The same Woman at Noon and at Midnight differs as much from herfelf self in outward appearance as Sunshine from Moonlight: and though in her Morning defbabille she looks not altogether unlike the Wife of a Mandarin, she appears towards the approach of Evening, from head to foot, tout contraire.

The Stage has been confidered by fome as the Standard of nice tafte in Dress: it may, perhaps, with greater truth be deemed so a few Years hence! when Foreigners have carried their Invention through all the Mazes of wild Variety, we must then begin to look at home for a fresh supply of Fashions; and it will, in all probability, be no uncommon fight hereafter, to behold the BeauxEsprits of Pofterity in the Toga Prætexta, or like the Roman Generals on our Theatre dignified with the full-bottom Wig, and the Buskins, and the Belles in the Farthingal and the Ruff. This is by no means a prepofterous thought, if we reflect on the strange revolutions which happen in the Republic of Dress: and that the same Garment, like Sir Roger de Coverley's Coat and Doublet, may be in and out a dozen times in the course of as many years. The good People of England err more, I apprehend, by a mis-application, or mis-ufe of the Thing they borrow, than by the meer Act of borrowing. The Fan, a native of China, when first introduced among our Grand

Grandmothers, was looked upon to be serviceable only as a Cooler or Ventilator, in the fultry season of the year. When the Plains were scorched with intolerable heat, and not a friendly breeze was on the wing to temper it, then, and then only, this Paper Machine was called in as a kind of artificial Zephyr to mitigate the fervor of the Skies, and restore the languid fainting Nymph to ease. But of late years how has this laudable purpose been perverted. In the midst of December-snows, when the hardiest Ruftic shudders at the Blast of Boreas, the hoary Matron, and the delicate Virgin wave their Fans with as much impetuosity, as if they were melting in the Dog-Days. In short it is now dwindled into a 'Toy, a meer Plaything. During the Reign of my Predeceffor the SPECTATOR, a regular Exercise was instituted for it. Several Movements have fince been found out, by which particular passions are typically represented. Thus the genteel Flirt is expressive of Indifference or Contempt. The beating a Tattoo on one hand, holding the Fan at the same time like a Drumstick in the other, denotes a violent Flutteration, and generally is the fore-runner of an open Rupture in the friendship of the Parties concerned. The dropping a Fan in the way of a pretty Fellow, is a courteous Invitation for him to take it