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The mirror of the graces; or, the English lady's costume: combining and harmonizing taste and judgment, elegance and grace, modesty, simplicity and economy, with fashion in dress; and adapting the various articles of female embellishments to different ages, forms, and complexions; to the seasons of the year, rank, and situation in life: with useful advice on female accomplishments, politeness, and manners; the cultivation of the mind and the disposition and carriage of the body: offering also the most efficacious means of preserving beauty, health, and loveliness. The whole according with the general principles of nature and rules of propriety
(1811)
On the female form, pp. 26-41
Page 28
2 MIRROR OF T11E GRACES. the other, we call it grave or gay, majestic or graceful. Not but that the same person may, by a happy combination of charms, unite these qualities in different degrees, as we sometimes see graceful majesty and majestic grace. And, certainly, without the commanding figure soft- ens the amplitude of its contour with a gentle elegance, it may possess a sort of regal conse- quence, but it will be that of a heavy and harsh importance. But, unless the slight and airy form, full of youth and animal spirits, superadds to these attractions the grace of a restraining dignity, her vivacity will be deem- ed levity, and her activity the romping of a wild hoyden. Young women must, therefore, when they present themselves to the world, not implicitly fashion their demeanors according to the le. veiling rules of the generality of school-gover. nesses ; but, considering the character of their own figures, allow their deportment, and select their dress, to follow and correct the bias of nature. There is a class of female contourwhich bears such faint marks of any positive character, that 28
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