Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-09-11
FOR THE ARGUS.
FROM THE CLUB.
August 25, 1910.

II mas been universally complaint
in modern times, among men of lite
.rary turn, that people of fashion pay no
attention to intellectual merit; and
some persons carry the charge much
further, contending that ladies of the
BON ton give positive preference to
tops. Although think there is some
thing in the constitution of women, that,
generally speaking, renders them fond
OF light, airy, and even of frivolous a.
musements (which, in some mea-
sure, will account for their fondness
for what is gay and trivial in the other
sex yet have also entertained for
some time past an opinion on this SUBJ
ject very complimentary, to the taste
of the fair although it may not be so
creditabie to the solidity of their un-
dsfsfa2Sinas. 4
nv kief feature of the true femi-
niue eRa il aeLcocy aud hence that
grace OF attire and courtliness of de-
meanorsfbr which women are SO re-
markable. To render themselves ac-
ceptable TO them, the men are compel
led to obey the dictates OF that delica-
cy, by dressing at least in neat and
cleanly manner. Beaux, who, taking
advantage OF female taste, pay attention
to nicely of dress and gracefulness of
manners; become, of course, in FASH
ionable circles, the greatest favorites |;
particularly with young ladies not much
accustomed to reflection. Men of lit
erary pursuits, let their mental accom-
iplishments be ever SO excellent, are too
aPtto be slovenly in their dress and
negligent In their manners, which rem
der their personal presence disagreed
BILE and sometimes disgusting. They
are, accordingly, neglected in the gay
and spcial circles OF life, which neg
lect rsnders them peevish, and they
exclaiR upon the leyity and want of
just discernmen. in the female sex.
Literary gentlemen ought to reflect,
that sloyenliness of person must always
tend to obscure intellectual vigor and
accomplishments, as the fogs obscure
the brilliaucy of the SUMS rays. In a
misty morning, we may. observe that
the circumstance which strikes us
most forcibly is the mist, which pre-
vents the solar beams from being man
fest; and SO it is with an awkward,
addressed, filthy man of great and im-
proved mind: We shrink from con-
tact with him and as in the prevalence
OF the mist we do not recur to the glo.
ries OF the sun, SO we do not qualify
the squalid negligence of the man by
reSollesfing the force and richness of
hiSNntsheet. The tops appreciating
theNpfsehcal operation of thrs branch
OF metaphysics more correctly than the
men OF sense, the latter are fairly OUT
witted by the former; and, in my
Judgment, the fops deserve much Gre
dit tor the exercise Of so decorous and
rational stratagem. At all events the
ladies are not to blame.
Gentlemen devoted to letters, deck
out their thoughts, in writing, in the
most comely manner possible: they
are, In that respect, someti mes fasti-
dious, aud always nice, to syllable.
Iheladies, constant tn their deiIcdcg o
taste, always pay the greatest Difference
to IDEAS thus handsomely set forth /;
and 1t the men of erudition would
take as much lains to appear to adyan-
tage In their habiliments as in their
boOks, the women, 1 am confident,
would have no more objection to meet
their persons than their minds in
6sheets,
4 La confederation of these remarks,
~ may be observed how very superior
literary man of fine mind, well dres-
sed, ADJ of easy manners, appears in a
fashionable circle. Let him be as ug-
ly as he may he will not be neglected :
And, II 10 these nature has given him
fine person and an interesting coun-
tenance, what figure does he make
What havoc among the fair What
riSalship and envy among those oil
his own sex Let us, then, no lon.
n condemn the women for levlty and
caprice; but reproach the men of un.
terst~nding and mental rsfneaert Tor