The greetings of
affection in the morning are by these means more respectful than the
familiar tenderness which frequently prolongs the evening talk. Nay, I
have often felt hurt, not to say disgusted, when a friend has
appeared, whom I parted with full dressed the evening before, with her
clothes huddled on, because she chose to indulge herself in bed till
the last moment.
Domestic affection can only be kept alive by these neglected
attentions; yet if men and women took half as much pains to dress
habitually neat, as they do to ornament, or rather to disfigure, their
persons, much would be done towards the attainment of purity of
mind. But women only dress to gratify men of gallantry; for the
lover is always best pleased with the simple garb that fits close to
the shape. There is an impertinence in ornaments that rebuffs
affection; because love always clings round the idea of home.
As a sex, women are habitually indolent; and every thing tends to
make them so. I do not forget the spurts of activity which sensibility
produces; but as these flights of feelings only increase the evil,
they are not to be confounded with the slow, orderly walk of reason.
So great in reality is their mental and bodily indolence, that till
their body be strengthened and their understanding enlarged by
active exertions, there is little reason to expect that modesty will
take place of bashfulness. They may find it prudent to assume its
semblance; but the fair veil will only be worn on gala days.
Pages:
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217