Volume Iii Part 10 (1/2)
'Nec duo sunt at forma duplex, nec faemina dici Nec puer ut possint, neutrumque et utrumque videntur.'
Ovid.
Most of the Papers I give the Publick are written on Subjects that never vary, but are for ever fixt and immutable. Of this kind are all my more serious Essays and Discourses; but there is another sort of Speculations, which I consider as Occasional Papers, that take their Rise from the Folly, Extravagance, and Caprice of the present Age. For I look upon my self as one set to watch the Manners and Behaviour of my Countrymen and Contemporaries, and to mark down every absurd Fas.h.i.+on, ridiculous Custom, or affected Form of Speech that makes its Appearance in the World, during the Course of these my Speculations. The Petticoat no sooner begun to swell, but I observed its Motions. The Party-patches had not time to muster themselves before I detected them. I had Intelligence of the Coloured Hood the very first time it appeared in a Publick a.s.sembly. I might here mention several other the like Contingent Subjects, upon which I have bestowed distinct Papers. By this Means I have so effectually quashed those Irregularities which gave Occasion to 'em, that I am afraid Posterity will scarce have a sufficient Idea of them, to relish those Discourses which were in no little Vogue at the time when they were written. They will be apt to think that the Fas.h.i.+ons and Customs I attacked were some Fantastick Conceits of my own, and that their Great-Grand-mothers could not be so whimsical as I have represented them. For this Reason, when I think on the Figure my several Volumes of Speculations will make about a Hundred Years hence, I consider them as so many Pieces of old Plate, where the Weight will be regarded, but the Fas.h.i.+on lost.
Among the several Female Extravagancies I have already taken Notice of, there is one which still keeps its Ground. I mean that of the Ladies who dress themselves in a Hat and Feather, a Riding-coat and a Perriwig, or at least tie up their Hair in a Bag or Ribbond, in imitation of the smart Part of the opposite s.e.x. As in my Yesterday's Paper I gave an Account of the Mixture of two s.e.xes in one Commonwealth, I shall here take notice of this Mixture of two s.e.xes in one Person. I have already shewn my Dislike of this Immodest Custom more than once; but in Contempt of every thing I have hitherto said, I am informed that the Highways about this great City are still very much infested with these Female Cavaliers.
I remember when I was at my Friend Sir ROGER DE COVERLY'S about this time Twelve-month, an Equestrian Lady of this Order appeared upon the Plains which lay at a distance from his House. I was at that time walking in the Fields with my old Friend; and as his Tenants ran out on every side to see so strange a Sight, Sir ROGER asked one of them who came by us what it was? To which the Country Fellow reply'd, 'Tis a Gentlewoman, saving your Wors.h.i.+p's Presence, in a Coat and Hat. This produced a great deal of Mirth at the Knight's House, where we had a Story at the same time of another of his Tenants, who meeting this Gentleman-like Lady on the High-way, was asked by her _whether that was_ Coverly-Hall, the Honest Man seeing only the Male Part of the Querist, replied, _Yes, Sir_; but upon the second Question, _whether_ Sir ROGER DE COVERLY _was a married Man_, having dropped his Eye upon the Petticoat, he changed his Note into _No, Madam_.
Had one of these Hermaphrodites appeared in _Juvenal's_ Days, with what an Indignation should we have seen her described by that excellent Satyrist. He would have represented her in a Riding Habit, as a greater Monster than the Centaur. He would have called for Sacrifices or Purifying Waters, to expiate the Appearance of such a Prodigy. He would have invoked the Shades of _Portia_ or _Lucretia_, to see into what the _Roman_ Ladies had transformed themselves.
For my own part, I am for treating the s.e.x with greater Tenderness, and have all along made use of the most gentle Methods to bring them off from any little Extravagance into which they are sometimes unwarily fallen: I think it however absolutely necessary to keep up the Part.i.tion between the two s.e.xes, and to take Notice of the smallest Encroachments which the one makes upon the other. I hope therefore that I shall not hear any more Complaints on this Subject. I am sure my She-Disciples who peruse these my daily Lectures, have profited but little by them, if they are capable of giving into such an Amphibious Dress. This I should not have mentioned, had not I lately met one of these my Female Readers in _Hyde Park_, who looked upon me with a masculine a.s.surance, and c.o.c.ked her Hat full in my Face.
For my part, I have one general Key to the Behaviour of the Fair s.e.x.
When I see them singular in any Part of their Dress, I conclude it is not without some Evil Intention; and therefore question not but the Design of this strange Fas.h.i.+on is to smite more effectually their Male Beholders. Now to set them right in this Particular, I would fain have them consider with themselves whether we are not more likely to be struck by a Figure entirely Female, than with such an one as we may see every Day in our Gla.s.ses: Or, if they please, let them reflect upon their own Hearts, and think how they would be affected should they meet a Man on Horseback, in his Breeches and Jack-Boots, and at the same time dressed up in a Commode and a Night-raile.
I must observe that this Fas.h.i.+on was first of all brought to us from _France_, a Country which has Infected all the Nations of _Europe_ with its Levity. I speak not this in derogation of a whole People, having more than once found fault with those general Reflections which strike at Kingdoms or Commonwealths in the Gross: A piece of Cruelty, which an ingenious Writer of our own compares to that of _Caligula_, who wished the _Roman_ People had all but one Neck, that he might behead them at a Blow. I shall therefore only Remark, that as Liveliness and a.s.surance are in a peculiar manner the Qualifications of the _French_ Nation, the same Habits and Customs will not give the same Offence to that People, which they produce among those of our own Country. Modesty is our distinguis.h.i.+ng Character, as Vivacity is theirs: And when this our National Virtue appears in that Female Beauty, for which our _British_ Ladies are celebrated above all others in the Universe, it makes up the most amiable Object that the Eye of Man can possibly behold.
C.
No. 436. Monday, July 21, 1712. Steele
'Verso pollice vulgi Quemlibet occidunt Populariter.'
Juv.
Being a Person of insatiable Curiosity, I could not forbear going on _Wednesday_ last to a Place of no small Renown for the Gallantry of the lower Order of _Britons_, namely, to the Bear-Garden at _Hockley in the Hole_; [1] where (as a whitish brown Paper, put into my Hands in the Street, informed me) there was to be a Tryal of Skill to be exhibited between two Masters of the n.o.ble Science of Defence, at two of the Clock precisely. I was not a little charm'd with the Solemnity of the Challenge, which ran thus:
”_I_ James Miller, _Serjeant, (lately come from the Frontiers of_ Portugal_) Master of the n.o.ble Science of Defence, hearing in most Places where I have been of the great Fame of_ Timothy Buck _of_ London, _Master of the said Science, do invite him to meet me, and exercise at the several Weapons following_, viz.
Back-Sword, Single Falchon, Sword and Dagger, Case of Falchons, Sword and Buckler, Quarter Staff.”
If the generous Ardour in _James Miller_ to dispute the Reputation of _Timothy Buck_, had something resembling the old Heroes of Romance, _Timothy Buck_ return'd Answer in the same Paper with the like Spirit, adding a little Indignation at being challenged, and seeming to condescend to fight _James Miller_, not in regard to _Miller_ himself, but in that, as the Fame went out, he had fought _Parkes_ of _Coventry_.
[2] The Acceptance of the Combat ran in these Words:
”_I_ Timothy Buck _of_ Clare-Market, _Master of the n.o.ble Science of Defence, hearing he did fight Mr._ Parkes _of_ Coventry, _will not fail (G.o.d Willing) to meet this fair Inviter at the Time and Place appointed, desiring a clear Stage and no Favour._
Vivat Regina.”