Page View
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)
Preliminary observations on the subject, pp. [9]-19
Page 18
18 MIRROR OF THIE GRACES, cant as the means may seem, the end is great; and poor as we may chuse to consider them, we all feel their effects and enjoy their sweet- i ness. Having thus explained my subject, my fair friends will readily perceive that there cannot be any thing hostile to female delicacy in the prosecution of my scheme. I give to woman all her privileges; I allow her the empire of ail her personal charms; I will assist her to increase their force: but it must be with a constant reference to their being the ensign of her more estimable mental attractions. She must never suppose that, when I insist on attention to person and manners, I forget the mind and heart ; or when I commend ex- ternal grace, that I pass unregarded the inter- nal beauty of the virgin soul. In order to give a regular and perspicuous elucidation of the several branches of my sub- ject, I shall arrange them under separate heads. Sometimes I may illustrate by obser- vations drawn from abroad, at other times by remarks collected at home. Having been a traveller in my youth, while visiting
Top of Page
This material may be protected by copyright law (e.g., Title 17, US Code).| For information on re-use, see http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright