At the suggestion of a fair correspondent, CHARLOTTE, we give a place to the following article, from the Champion.
From the manners and customs of a country much may be estimated concerning the character of its natives, ‘for this reason, philosophers in all ages have considered lie order and regulation, even of some minor circumstances, to be of importance; our countryman. Lord Chesterfield, author of “Letters to his Son,” is copious upon this subject, and has condescended to be somewhat minute even in the article of dress, nor can we justly accuse him of singularity in this particular, for among the ancients, as well as the moderns, we may find many precedents for this procedure; , Cicero, in his “Book of Duties,” also addressed to his son, relaxes the rigour of philosophy to touch upon this topic, and closes his observations by saying, Ergo et a forma removerentur omnis viro, non dignus ornatus”; , and Scylla objected to Caesar, on this very head, that he wore the Laciniam Trahere trailing on the ground, and gathered about the wrists like a woman: Virgil also accuses the Trojans of effeminacy.
Among the Jews it was accounted criminal for men to imitate the costume of females, and the laws of Moses expressly forbade that men should be attired like women; so that we find from immemorial antiquity, not only that transgressions of this kind existed, but also that they were universally derided, and frequently visited with punishment.
What shall we say then of our modern fops, who, in all things, the femoralia excepted (of which they appear unworthy) are very women indeed; how do they dishonour the noble character of man, so sublimely delineated by our immortal Milton in that beautiful contrast ,
“For contemplation, he, and valour form’d,
For softness, she, and sweet attractive grace.”
Softness, the peculiar characteristic of women now forms the chief part of our modern beaux’ demeanour, soft speaking, affected attitudes, and all the symbols of effeminacy, with this only difference, that in the one it is natural and pleasing, and appropriate to her form and texture, in the other constrained, incompatible, and disgusting; the former may be denominated the mollis corporis, the latter the mollis mentis, or a cowardly soul in a robust body, and a more magnanimous mind in a delicate person.
If men will assume the garb of females, can we wonder if a contention should arise which of the sexes shall be entitled to the inexpressibles, and whether, having usurped the stays; Jessamy Benedict ought not to render up the galligaskins as an equivalent; contemplation and valour are out оf the question; a modern beau, that is a dandy, never thinks, except it be about his dress; and, as to courage his most chivalrous actions are insulting unprotected females, and attacking the tarts and custards at a confectioner’s; yet it is just to allow, that in crossing a street he shows a great dexterity, especially where it has been swept clean, and where, for want of pence, or a heart to give, he finds it necessary to give a go by to the wretched operator who performed the business of sweeping.
Oh, what a delicate thing is a dandy!
“What is the butterfly! at best
He’s but a caterpillar drest,!
The gaudy fop’s his picture just.”
Quoted from: The Kaleidoscope, or, Literary and Scientific Mirror. Vol. 2 Liverpool, 1822: 330.