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Patch for the publick good so much as for their own private advantage, it is certain, that there are several women of honour who Patch out of principle, and with an eye to the interest of their country. Nay, I am informed that some of them adhere so stedfastly to their party, and are so far from sacrificing their zeal for the publick to their passion for any particular person, that in a late draught of marriage-articles a Lady has stipulated with her husband, that whatever his opinions are, she shall be at liberty to patch on which side she pleases.

I must here take notice that Rosalinda, a famous Whig partizan, has most unfortunately a very beautiful mole on the Tory part of her forehead; which being very conspicuous, has occasioned many mistakes, and given an handle to her enemies to misrepresent her face, as though it had revolted from the whig interest. But, whatever this natural patch may seem to insinuate, it is well known that her notions of Government are still the same. This unlucky mole, however, has mis-led several coxcombs; and like the hanging out of false colours, made some of them converse with Rosalinda in what they thought the spirit of her party, when on a sudden she has given them an unexpected fire, that has sunk them all at once. If Rosalinda is unfortunate in her mole, Nigranilla is as unhappy in a pimple, which forces her, against her inclinations, to patch on the whig side.

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I am told that many virtuous matrons, who formerly have been taught to believe that this artificial spotting of the face was unlawful, are now reconciled by a zeal for their cause, to what they could not be prompted by a concern for their beauty. This way of declaring war upon one another, puts me in mind of what is reported of the Tygress, that several spots rise in 30 her skin when she is angry; or as Mr. Cowley has imitated the verses that stand as the Motto of this paper,

She swells with angry pride,

And calls forth all her spots on ev'ry side.

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When I was in the Theatre the time above-mentioned, I had the curiosity to count the Patches on both sides, and found the Tory Patches to be about twenty stronger than the Whig; but to make amends for this small inequality, I the next morn5 ing found the whole Puppet-shew filled with faces spotted after the Whiggish manner. Whether or no the Ladies had retreated hither in order to rally their forces, I cannot tell; but the next night they came in so great a body to the Opera, that they out-numbered the enemy.

This account of Party-patches will, I am afraid, appear improbable to those who live at a distance from the fashionable world; but as it is a distinction of a very singular nature, and what perhaps may never meet with a parallel, I think I should not have discharged the office of a faithful SPECTATOR, had I not recorded it.

I have, in former papers, endeavoured to expose this Partyrage in women, as it only serves to aggravate the hatred and animosities that reign among men, and in a great measure deprives the Fair sex of those peculiar charms with which nature has endowed them.

When the Romans and Sabines were at war, and just upon the point of giving battel, the women who were allied to both of them, interposed with so many tears and intreaties, that they prevented the mutual slaughter which threatned both parties, 25 and united them together in a firm and lasting peace.

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I would recommend this noble example to our British Ladies, at a time when their country is torn with so many unnatural divisions, that if they continue, it will be a misfortune to be born in it. The Greeks thought it so improper for women to interest themselves in competitions and contentions, that for this reason, among others, they forbad them, under pain of death, to be present at the Olympick games, notwithstanding these were the publick diversions of all Greece.

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As our English women excel those of all nations in beauty, they should endeavour to outshine them in all other accomplishments proper to the sex, and to distinguish themselves as tender mothers and faithful wives, rather than as furious partizans. Female vertues are of a domestick turn. The 5 family is the proper province for private women to shine in. If they must be shewing their zeal for the publick, let it not be against those who are perhaps of the same family, or at least of the same religion or nation, but against those who are the open, professed, undoubted enemies of their faith, liberty and country. When the Romans were pressed with a foreign enemy, the Ladies voluntarily contributed all their rings and jewels to assist the Government under the publick exigence, which appeared so laudable an action in the eyes of their countrymen, that from thenceforth it was permitted 15 by a law to pronounce publick orations at the funeral of a woman in praise of the deceased person, which till that time was peculiar to men. Would our English Ladies, instead of sticking on a patch against those of their own country, shew themselves so truly publick-spirited as to sacrifice every one her necklace against the common enemy, what decrees ought not to be made in favour of them?

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Since I am recollecting upon this subject such passages as occur to my memory out of ancient Authors, I cannot omit a sentence in the celebrated funeral oration of Pericles, which he made in honour of those brave Athenians that were slain in a fight with the Lacedemonians. After having addressed himself to the several ranks and orders of his countrymen, and shewn them how they should behave themselves in the publick cause, he turns to the female part of his audience; 30 “And as for you (says he) I shall advise you in very few "words: Aspire only to those virtues that are peculiar to your "sex; follow your natural modesty, and think it your greatest "commendation not to be talked of one way or other.

N° 102. Wednesday, June 27.

Lusus animo debent aliquando dari,

[1711.]

Ad cogitandum melior ut redeat sibi. Phædr.

I do not know whether to call the following Letter a satyr upon Coquettes, or a representation of their several fantastical accomplishments, or what other title to give it; but as it is I shall communicate it to the publick. It will sufficiently explain 5 its own intentions, so that I shall give it my Reader at length without either Preface or Postscript.

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Mr. SPECTATOR,

"Women are armed with Fans as men with Swords, and some"times do more execution with them. To the end therefore "that Ladies may be entire Mistresses of the weapon which "they bear, I have erected an Academy for the training up of 'young women in the Exercise of the Fan, according to the "most fashionable airs and motions that are now practised at "Court. The Ladies who carry Fans under me are drawn up "twice a day in my great Hall, where they are instructed in the "use of their Arms, and exercised by the following words of "command,

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"By the right observation of these few plain words of com"mand, a woman of a tolerable genius who will apply herself "diligently to her exercise for the space of one half year, shall "be able to give her Fan all the graces that can possibly enter "into that little modish machine.

"But to the end that my Readers may form to themselves "a right notion of this Exercise, I beg leave to explain it to "them in all its parts. When my female Regiment is drawn in array, with every one her weapon in her hand, upon my giving the word to handle their Fans, each of them "shakes her Fan at me with a smile, then gives her right-hand

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woman a tap upon the shoulder, then presses her lips with "the extremity of her Fan, then lets her arms fall in an easy "motion, and stands in a readiness to receive the next word "of Command. All this is done with a close Fan, and is "generally learned in the first week.

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"The next motion is that of unfurling the Fan, in which "are comprehended several little flurts and vibrations, as also "gradual and deliberate openings, with many voluntary fallings "asunder in the Fan it self, that are seldom learned under a "month's practice. This part of the Exercise pleases the "spectators more than any other, as it discovers on a sudden an infinite number of Cupids, Garlands, Altars, Birds, Beasts, "Rain-bows, and the like agreeable figures, that display them"selves to view, whilst every one in the regiment holds a "picture in her hand.

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"Upon my giving the word to discharge their Fans, they "give one general crack that may be heard at a considerable "distance when the wind sits fair. This is one of the most "difficult parts of the Exercise; but I have several Ladies with 25 "me, who at their first entrance could not give a pop loud "enough to be heard at the further end of a room, who can

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now discharge a Fan in such a manner, that it shall make a "report like a pocket-pistol. I have likewise taken care (in "order to hinder young women from letting off their Fans in wrong places or unsuitable occasions) to shew upon what subject the crack of a Fan may come in properly: I have "likewise invented a Fan, with which a girl of sixteen, by the "help of a little wind which is enclosed about one of the largest

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