| Citation |
NHG-P.768.022
10 Jun 1768:11 (609)
From the Boston Weekly News-Letter, June 2.
Mr. Draper, Be giving the following extract from a late
London Magazine, a place in your paper, which is generally
read with attention, at this time when the monstrous fashion
therein ridiculed seems to be gaining ground among us, you
will much oblige your's.
[signed] A Hater of Monsters.
It hath often been observed that we English people are
remarkable for acting in opposition to those wise maxims
which tell us, in medio tutissimus ibis, or in medio
consistet virtus. Though an Englishman, I have candour
enough to acknowledge the truth of the accusation, and I
think it was never more flagrantly exemplified than at
present by my fair countrywomen, in the enormous size of
their heads. . . [12 more lines about the extravagant size
of ladies' headdresses] How then is it possible that a fine
lady can imagine herself even tolerable in the eyes of a
rational spectator, when her head makes a full fourth of her
whole body. I often frequent the play houses, and between
the acts am wont to regale myself with contemplating the
charms of my fair countrywomen; but really their heads are
of late become so enormous, that, in order to behold them
without disgust, find myself under the necessity of
imagining them so many Patagonians, and consequently that
the feet of those in the boxes rest upon the ground on a
level with the floor of the orchestra. This I find to be a
much more tolerable idea than to suppose them dwarfs with
giants heads. Pray, Sir, inform these fair ladies, that
without proportion there and be no beauty; and that an
oyster-woman in puris natur alibus is a much more desireable
object than a brocaded monster. But, cries her ladyship, it
is the fashion. Fie, fie; my good lady! I expected a more
rational answer. Ought a woman of your understanding to be
led into a manifest absurdity by a passel of foolish,
ridiculous female coxcombs and French frifeurs?
I am, Sir, you's, &c.
(The ladies here will note that the above was wrote where
there are theatres, and not where plays cannot be acted,
nevertheless they may imagine how ridiculous such
appearances are in places designed for sacred use.)
[pointing hand] A Patagonian is a modest appellation for
such ladies.
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