No. LXV. THURSDAY, APRIL 24. Nec tamen indignum est, quod vobis cura placendi, Blame not the belles, since modern times can shew, To Mr. Town. OVID. SIR, AS no one has a greater respect for the fair sex than myself, I was highly pleased with a letter inserted some time ago in your paper, ridiculing the detestable use of paint among the ladies. This practice is, indeed, too general; and for my part, when I meet a blooming fresh-coloured face in town, I no more take it for the real face belonging to the lady, than I imagine Queen Anne's portrait delineated on a sign-post to be her Majesty's flesh and blood. But this fashion is not confined to the ladies. I am ashamed to tell you, that we are indebted to Spanish wool for many of our masculine ruddy complexions. A pretty fellow lackers his pale face with as many varnishes as a fine lady; and it is well known, that late hours at the card-table, amusements at Haddock's, immoderate draughts of Champagne, and sleeping all night upon a bulk, will strip the most healthy complexion of it's roses. Therefore, to repair the loss, they are obliged to substitute the unwholesome disguise of art for the native hue of a vigorous constitution. I must leave it to you, Mr. Town, or your ingenious correspondent, to enlarge upon this subject; and will only just appeal to the ladies, whether a smooth fair face is a proper recommendation of a man to their favour; and whether they do not look upon those of the other sex as a contemptible sort of rivals, who aspire to be thought charming and pretty? As many females are also conscious, that they themselves endeavour to conceal by art the defects of nature, they are apt to suspect those of our sex, who are so very solicitous to set off their persons: and, indeed, I fear it will be found, upon examination, that most of our pretty fellows, who lay on carmine, are painting a rotten post. I am, Sir, Your humble servant, W. MANLY. Many of my readers will, I dare say, be hardly persuaded, that this custom could have ever prevailed as a branch of male foppery: But it is too notorious, that our fine gentlemen, in several other instances besides the article of paint, affect the softness and delicacy of the fair sex. The male beauty has his washes, perfumes, and cosmetics; and takes as much pains to set a gloss on his complexion, as the footman in japanHe has his dressing-room, and ning his shoes. (which is still more ridiculous) his toilet too; at which he sits as many hours repairing his battered countenance, as a decayed toast dressing for a birthnight. I had once an opportunity of taking a survey of one of these male-toilets; and, as such a curiosity may perhaps prove entertaining to my readers, I shall here give a description of it. Having occasion one morning to wait on a very pretty fellow, I was desired by the valet de chambre to walk into the dressing-room, as his master was not stirring. I was accordingly shewn into a neat little chamber hung round with Indian paper, and adorned with several little images of pagods and bramins, and vessels of Chelsea china, in which were set variouscoloured sprigs of artificial flowers. But the toilet taste. most excited my admiration; where I found every thing was intended to be agreeable to the Chinese A looking-glass, inclosed in a whimsical frame of Chinese paling, stood upon a japan table, over which was spread a coverlid of the finest chints. I could not but observe a number of boxes of different sizes, which were all of them japan, and lay regularly disposed on the table. I had the curiosity to examine the contents of several: in one I found lip-salve, in another a roll of pig tail, and in another the ladies black sticking plaister; but the last which I opened very much surprised me, as I saw nothing in it but a number of little pills. I likewise remarked, on one part of the table, a tooth brush and sponge, with a pot of Delescot's opiate; and on the other side, water for the eyes. In the middle stood a bottle of Eau de Luce, and roll of perfumed pomatum. Almond pastes, powder puffs, hair combs, brushes, nippers, and the like, made up the rest of this fantastic equipage. B. among many other whimsies, I could not conceive what use a very small ivory comb could be designthe valet informed me, that it was a comb for yebrows. f must be confessed, that there are some men of sta delicate make and silky constitution, that it is u vonder, if gentlemen of such a lady-like generation. ave a natural tendency to the refinements and softnesses of females. These tender dear creatures are generally bred up immediately under the wing of their mammas, and scarce fed with any thing less innocent than her milk. They are never permitted to study, lest it should hurt their eyes, and make their heads ache; nor suffered to use any exercises like other boys, lest a fine hand should be spoiled by being used too roughly. While other lads are flogged into the five declensions, and at length lashed through a whole school, these pretty masters are kept at home VOL. II. to improve in whipt-syllabubs, pastry, and face-painting. In consequence of which, when other young fellows begin to appear like men, these dainty creatures come into the world with all the accomplishments of a lady's woman. But if the common foibles of the female world are ridiculous even in these equivocal half-men, these neuter somethings between male and female, hor aukwardly must they sit upon the more robust a masculine part of mankind? What indeed can be more absurd, than to see an huge fellow with make of a porter, and fit to mount the stage a champion at Broughton's amphitheatre, sitting varnish his broad face with paint and Benjamin-wa For my part, I never see a great looby aiming at w catesse, but he seems as strange and uncouth a figur as Achilles in petticoats.. This folly is also to be ̧* ticularly condemned, when it appears in the mor lemn characters of life, to which a gravity of ap ance is essential; and in which the least mark of or pery seems as improper as a physician would seer. ridiculous prescribing in a bag-wig, or a sep pleading in the court of common pleas in his own instead of a night-cap perriwig. As I think stance or two of this kind would shew this folly in the most striking light, I shall here subjoin two carac ters; in whom, as it is most improper, it will ense quently appear most ridiculous. John Hardman is upwards of six feet high, and stout enough to beat two of the sturdiest chairmen, that ever came out of Ireland. Nature indeed, seems to have intended John himself to carry a chair: but fortune has enabled him to appear in whatever character he likes best; and he has wisely discovered that none will sit so easy on him as that of a pretty fellow. It is therefore his study to new-mould his face and person. He throws his goggle eyes into leers, languishes, and ogles; and endeavours to draw up his hideous mouth, which extends from one ear to the other, into a simper. His voice, which is naturally of a deeper bass than an hurdy-gurdy, is in a manner set to a new tune; and his speech, which is very much tinctured with the broad dialect of a particular county, is delivered with so much nicety and gentleness, that every word is minced and clipt, in order to appear soft and delicate. When he walks, he endeavours to move his unwieldy figure along in the pert trip, or easy shambling pace of our pretty fellows: and he commonly carries a thin jemmy stick in his hand, which naturally reminds us of Hercules with a distaff. The Reverend Mr. Jessamy, (who took orders, only because there was a good living in the family) is known among the ladies by the name of the beau-parson. Ele is indeed the most delicate creature imaginable, and differs so much from the generality of the clergy, that I believe the very sight of a plumb-pudding would make him swoon. Out of his canonicals, his constant dress is what they call parson's-blue lined with white, a black sattin waistcoat, velvet breeches, and silk stockings. His pumps are of dog-skin, made by Tull; and it is said, that he had a joint of one of his toe's cut off, whose length, being out of all proportion, prevented his having an handsome foot. Ilis very grizzle is scarce orthodox: for, though it would be open schism to wear a bag, yet his wig has always a bag-front, and is properly cropt behind, that it may not eclipse the lustre of his diamond stock-buckle. He cannot bear the thoughts of being sea-sick; or else he declares he would certainly go abroad, where he might again resume his laced cloaths, and appear like a gentleman in a bag-wig and sword. T |