to break in upon that Propriety and Distinction of
Appearance in which the Beauty of different Characters
is preserved; and if they should be more frequent
than they are at present, would look like turning
our publick Assemblies into a general Masquerade.
The Model of this Amazonian Hunting-Habit
for Ladies, was, as I take it, first imported from
France, and well enough expresses the Gaiety
of a People who are taught to do any thing so it
be with an Assurance; but I cannot help thinking
it sits awkwardly yet on our English Modesty.
The Petticoat is a kind of Incumbrance upon it, and
if the Amazons should think fit to go on
in this Plunder of our Sex’s Ornaments, they
ought to add to their Spoils, and compleat their
Triumph over us, by wearing the Breeches.
If it be natural to contract insensibly
the Manners of those we imitate, the Ladies who
are pleased with assuming our Dresses will do us
more Honour than we deserve, but they will do it at
their own Expence. Why should the lovely Camilla
deceive us in more Shapes than her own, and affect
to be represented in her Picture with a Gun and
a Spaniel, while her elder Brother, the Heir of a worthy
Family, is drawn in Silks like his Sister?
The Dress and Air of a Man are not well to be divided;
and those who would not be content with the Latter,
ought never to think of assuming the Former. There
is so large a portion of natural Agreeableness among
the Fair Sex of our Island, that they seem betrayed
into these romantick Habits without having the same
Occasion for them with their Inventors: All that
needs to be desired of them is, that they would
be themselves, that is, what Nature designed
them; and to see their Mistake when they depart from
this, let them look upon a Man who affects the Softness
and Effeminacy of a Woman, to learn how their Sex
must appear to us, when approaching to the Resemblance
of a Man.
I am, SIR,
Your most humble Servant.
[Footnote 1: The letter is by John Hughes.]
* * * *
*
No. 105. Saturday, June 30, 1711.
Addison.
’...
Id arbitror
Adprime
in vita esse utile, ne quid nimis.’
Ter.
And.
My Friend WILL. HONEYCOMB values himself very
much upon what he calls the Knowledge of Mankind,
which has cost him many Disasters in his Youth; for
WILL. reckons every Misfortune that he has met with
among the Women, and every Rencounter among the Men,
as Parts of his Education, and fancies he should never
have been the Man he is, had not he broke Windows,
knocked down Constables, disturbed honest People with
his Midnight Serenades, and beat up a lewd Woman’s
Quarters, when he was a young Fellow. The engaging
in Adventures of this Nature WILL. calls the studying
of Mankind; and terms this Knowledge of the Town, the
