become more the object of ftudy and attention than any of those which are to be found in the Encyclopedia, it may feem fuperfluous to fay much upon the fubject of this chapter; but though I fhould with neatnefs and elegance to be ever united, yet I would not, by any means, have them confounded together, as they certainly are as distinct, as light and fhade in painting; and like them too, when happily combined, they mutually reflect grace on each other, while the charming refult of both, amounts

3

to

to

something than beauty

"more."

In the beginning of this almost finished century, the most refined Moralift of his age or nation told his fair cotemporaries, that 66 wrapping-gowns and dirty linen "were the bane of conjugal "love*." Yet in those days our grandmothers might poffibly have thought they dreffed as elegantly as the prefent race of young wo men imagine they do now. But then, lefs enlightened than their

Addifon.

happier

happier defcendants, they might vainly prefume, that the brilliancy of their charms, when heightened by drefs, and animated by the gaiety of an opera or a ball, could efface the disgust which a husband might have conceived from the indelicacy of their appearance in their own apartments. How vain, indeed, muft fuch an idea feem to us, who know that disgust is, perhaps, the only unconquerable fentiment of the human mind, and that it can never be detached from the unfortunate object which has once inspired it! The applica

tion of this knowledge is too obvious to need any comment.

THE qualities of Neatness extend much farther than to the exterior, or even the interior of dress the house as well as perfon, nay the mind, of an accomplished woman should be regulated by the same spirit; for it is very poffible to meet with a littered head though bien coiffée, and a flatternly mind in a very elegant form.

NEATNESS is to the perfon what purity is to the mind. In many inftances

inftances they are so perfectly analogous, that they feem to be rather a fimple than a complex idea. But though their qualities appear fo very

fimilar, they are, alas! at fometimes difunited. They have, however, one ftriking characteristic common to both, which is, that art will, upon examination, be always found deficient to imitate their unaffected excellence.

I SHALL conclude thefe few imperfect hints with Lord Lyttelton's beautiful lines upon the fame fubject:

"Do thou, my Fair, endeavour to poffefs "An elegance of mind as well as drefs," &c.