cannot however conclude this Paper without taking
notice, That amidst these wild Remarks there now and
then appears something very reasonable. I cannot
likewise forbear observing, That we are all guilty
in some Measure of the same narrow way of Thinking,
which we meet with in this Abstract of the Indian
Journal; when we fancy the Customs, Dress, and Manners
of other Countries are ridiculous and extravagant,
if they do not resemble those of our own.
[Footnote 1: Swift writes to Stella, in his Journal,
28th April, 1711:
’The SPECTATOR is written by Steele,
with Addison’s help; ’tis often very
pretty. Yesterday it was made of a noble hint
I gave him long ago for his Tatlers, about an Indian,
supposed to write his travels into England.
I repent he ever had it. I intended to have written
a book on that subject. I believe he has spent
it all in one paper, and all the under hints there
are mine too; but I never see him or Addison.’
The paper, it will be noticed, was not written by
Steele.]
[Footnote 2: The four kings Te Yee Neen Ho Ga
Prow, Sa Ga Yean Qua Rash Tow, E Tow O Koam, and Oh
Nee Yeath Ton Now Prow, were chiefs of the Iroquois
Indians who had been persuaded by adjacent British
colonists to come and pay their respects to Queen
Anne, and see for themselves the untruth of the assertion
made among them by the Jesuits, that the English and
all other nations were vassals to the French king.
They were said also to have been told that the Saviour
was born in France and crucified in England.]
[Footnote 3: polished Marble]
[Footnote 4: those]
[Footnote 5: Men of the greatest Perfections
in their Country]
[Footnote 6: There was, among other fancies,
a patch cut to the pattern of a coach and horses.
Suckling, in verses ’upon the Black Spots worn
by my Lady D. E.,’ had called them her
... Mourning weeds for Hearts forlorn,
Which, though you must not love, you could
not scorn,]
* * * *
*
No. 51. Saturday, April 28, 1711.
Steele.
‘Torquet
ab Obscenis jam nunc Sermonibus Aurem.’
Hor.
Mr. Spectator,
’My Fortune, Quality, and Person
are such as render me as Conspicuous
as any Young Woman in Town. It is
in my Power to enjoy it in all its
Vanities, but I have, from a very careful
Education, contracted a
great Aversion to the forward Air and
Fashion which is practised in
all Publick Places and Assemblies.
I attribute this very much to the
Stile and Manners of our Plays: I
was last Night at the Funeral,
where a Confident Lover in the Play, speaking
of his Mistress, cries
out:
Oh that Harriot! to
fold these Arms about the Waste of that
Beauteous strugling, and at
last yielding Fair! [1]
