their several Windows observing the Jezebel I am now No. 175, complaining of. I at first looked on her my self with the Thursday, highest Contempt, could divert my self with her Airs Sept. 20, 171. for half an Hour, and afterwards take up my Plutarch with great Tranquility of Mind; but was a little vexed to find that in less than a Month she had considerably stoln upon my Time, so that I resolved to look at her no more, But the Jezebel, who, as I suppose, might think it a diminution to her Honour, to have the Number of her Gazers lessen'd, resolved not to part with me so, and begun to play so many new Tricks at her Window, that it was impossible for me to forbear observing her. I verily believe she put her self to the Expence of a new Wax Baby on purpose to plague me; she used to dandle and play with this Figure as impertinently as if it had been a real Child: Sometimes she would let fall a Glove or a Pin-Cushion in the Street, and shut or open her Casement three or four times in a Minute. When I had almost weaned my self from this, she came in her Shift Sleeves, and dress'd at the Window. I had no way left but to let down my Curtains, which I submitted to, though it considerably darkned my Room, and was pleased to think that I had at last got the better of her; but was surprized the next Morning to hear her talking out of her Window quite cross the Street, with another Woman that lodges over me: I am since informed, that she made her a Visit, and got acquainted with her, within three Hours after the Fall of my Window Curtains, Sir, I am plagued every Moment in the Day one way or other in my own Chambers; and the Jezebel has the Satisfaction to know, that, though I am not looking at her, I am list'ning to her impertinent Dialogues that pass over my Head. I would immediately change my Lodgings, but that I think it might look like a plain Confession that I am conquered; and besides this, I am told that most Quarters of the Town are infested with these Creatures. If they are so, I am sure 'tis such an Abuse, as a Lover of Learning and Silence ought to take Notice of II 165 B I am, Sir, Yours, &c.' I No. 175. I am afraid, by sone Lines in this Letter, that my Thursday, young Student is touched with a Distemper which he Sept. 20, hardly seems to dream of, and is too far gone in it 1711. to receive Advice, However, I shall Animadvert in due time on the Abuse which he mentions, having my self observed a Nest of Jezebels near the Temple, who make it their Diversion to draw up the Eyes of young Templars, that at the same time they may see them stumble in an unlucky Gutter which runs under the Window. 'Mr. SPECTATOR, I have lately read the Conclusion of your fortyseventh Speculation upon Butts with great Pleasure, and have ever since been throughly perswaded that one of those Gentlemen is extreamly necessary to enliven Conversation, I had an Entertainment last Week upon the Water for a Lady to whom I make my Addresses, with several of our Friends of both Sexes. To divert the Company in general, and to shew my Mistress in particular my Genius for Raillery, I took one of the most celebrated Butts in Town along with me. It is with the utmost Shame and Confusion that I must acquaint you with the Sequel of my Adventure: As soon as we were got into the Boat I played a Sentence or two at my Butt which I thought very smart, when my ill Genius, who I verily believe inspired him purely for my Destruction, suggested to him such a Reply, as got all the Laughter on his side, I was dashed at so unexpected a Turn, which the Butt per ceiving, resolved not to let me recover my self, and pursuing his Victory, rallied and tossed me in a most unmerciful and barbarous manner 'till we came to Chelsea. I had some small Success while we were eating Cheese Cakes; but coming Home he renewed his Attacks with his former good Fortune, and equal Diversion to the whole Company. In short, Sir, I must ingenuously own that I was never so handled in all my Life; and to compleat my Misfortune, I am since told that the Butt, flushed with his late Victory, has made a Visit or two to the dear Object of my Wishes, so that I am at once in danger of losing all No. 175. my Pretensions to Wit, and my Mistress into the Thursday, Bargain. This, Sir, is a true Account of my present Sept., 20, Troubles, which you are the more obliged to assist me in, as you were your self in a great measure the Cause of them, by recommending to us an Instrument, and not instructing us at the same time how to play upon it. I have been thinking whether it might not be highly convenient, that all Butts should wear an Inscription affixed to some Part of their Bodies, shewing on which side they are to be come at, and that if any of them are Persons of unequal Tempers, there should be some Method taken to inform the World at what Time it f is safe to attack them, and when you had best let them alone. But submitting these Matters to your more serious Consideration, I am, Sir, Yours, &c.' I have, indeed, seen and heard of several young Gentlemen under the same Misfortune with my pres ent Correspondent. The best Rule I can lay down for them to avoid the like Calamities for the future, is, throughly to consider not only Whether their Com panions are weak, but Whether themselves are Wits. The following Letter comes to me from Exeter, and being credibly informed that what it contains is Matter of Fact, I shall give it my Reader as it was sent me. Exeter, Sept. 7. 'Mr. SPECTATOR You were pleased in a late Speculation to take Notice of the Inconvenience we lie under in the Country, in not being able to keep Pace with the Fashion; but there is another Misfortune which we are subject to, and is no less grievous than the former, which has hitherto escaped your Observation. I mean, the having things palmed upon us for London Fashions, which were never once heard of there. A Lady of this Place had some time since a Box of the newest Ribbons sent down by the Coach: Whether it was her own malicious Invention, or the Wantonness of No. 175. of a London Milliner, I am not able to inform Thursday, you; but, among the rest, there was one Cherry Sept, 20, coloured Ribbon, consisting of about half a dozen Yards, 1711 made up in the Figure of a Small Head-dress. The foresaid Lady had the Assurance to affirm, amidst a Circle of Female Inquisitors, who were present at the opening of the Box, that this was the newest Fashion worn at Court. Accordingly the next Sunday we had several Females, who came to Church with their Heads dress'd wholly in Ribbons, and looked like so many Victims ready to be Sacrificed. This is still a reigning Mode among us. At the same time we have a Sett of Gentlemen, who take the Liberty to appear in all publick Places without any Buttons to their Coats, which they supply with several little silver Hasps; tho' our freshest Advices from London make no mention of any such Fashion; and we are some thing shy of affording Matter to the Button-makers for a second Petition, What I would humbly propose to the Publick is, that there may be a Society erected in London, to consist of the most skilful Persons of both Sexes for the Inspection of Modes and Fashions; and that hereafter no Person or Persons shall presume to appear singularly habited in any Part of the Country, without a Testi monial from the foresaid Society that their Dress is answerable to the Mode at London. By this means, Sir, we shall know a little whereabout we are, If you could bring this Matter to bear, you would very much oblige great Numbers of your Country Friends, and among the rest, X No. 176. Your very Humble Servant, Jack Modish!' Friday, September 21. Parvula, pumilio, xapíтwv μla, tota merum sal-Luc. Τ THE HERE are in the following Letter Matters which I, a Batchelor, cannot be supposed to be acquainted with; therefore shall not pretend to explain upon it till further 1 further Consideration, but leave the Author of - Epistle to express his Condition his own Way, 'Mr. SPECTATOR, the No. 176. Friday, Sept. 21 1711 I do not deny but you appear in many of your Papers eto understand humane Life pretty well; but there are very many things which you cannot possibly have a Etrue Notion of, in a single Life; these are such as respect the married State; otherwise I cannot account for your o having over-looked a very good sort of People, which are commonly called in Scorn the Hen-peckt. You 2 are to understand that I am one of those innocent o Mortals, who suffer Derision under that Word, for being governed by the best of Wives. It would be worth your Consideration to enter into the Nature of Affec tion it self, and tell us, according to your Philosophy, why it is that our Dears should do what they will with tus, shall be froward, ill-natured, assuming, sometimes whine, at others rail, then swoon away, then come to Life, have the Use of Speech to the greatest Fluency st imaginable, and then sink away again, and all because they fear we do not love them enough; that is, the : poor things love us so heartily, that they cannot think y it possible we should be able to love them in so great a Degree, which makes them take on so. I say, Sir, a is true good-natur'd Man, whom Rakes and Libertines call Hen-peckt, shall fall into all these different Moods with his dear Life, and at the same time see they are wholly put on; and yet not be hard-hearted enough to tell the འ dear good Creature that she is an Hypocrite. This sort of good Man is very frequent in the populous and wealthy City of London, and is the true hen-peckt Man; the kind Creature cannot break through his Kindnesses so far as to come to an Explanation with the tender Soul, and therefore goes on to comfort her when nothing ails her, to appease her when she is not angry, and to give her his Cash when he knows she does not want it; rather than be uneasie for a whole Month, I which is computed by hard-hearted Men the Space of Time which a froward Woman takes to come to her self if you have Courage to stand out. There |