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crates, that he brought philosophy down from heaven, to inhabit among men; and I shall be ambitious to have it said of me, that I have brought philosophy out of closets and libraries, schools and colleges, to dwell in clubs and assemblies, at tea-tables and in coffee-houses.

I would, therefore, in a very particular manner, recommend these my speculations to all well-regulated families that set apart an hour in every morning for tea and bread and butter; and would earnestly advise them for their good, to order this paper to be punctually served up, and to be looked upon as a part of the tea-equipage.

Sir Francis Bacon observes, that a well-written book, compared with its rivals and antagonists, is like Moses's serpent, that immediately swallowed up and devoured those of the Egyptians. I shall not be so vain as to think that, where the Spectator appears, the other public prints will vanish; but shall leave it to my reader's consideration, whether it is not much better to be let into the knowledge of one's self, than to hear what passes in Muscovy or Poland; and to amuse ourselves with such writings as tend to the wearing out of ignorance, passion, and prejudice, than such as naturally conduce to inflame hatreds, and make enmities irreconcileable!

In the next place, I would recommend this paper to the daily perusal of those gentlemen whom I cannot but consider as my good brothers and allies, I mean the fraternity of spectators, who live in the world without having any thing to do in it; and either by the affluence of their fortunes, or laziness of their dispositions, have no other business with the rest of mankind but to look upon them. Under this class of men are comprehended all contemplative Tradesmen, titular Physicians, Fellows of the Royal Society, Templars that are not given to be contentious, and States

men that are out of business: in short, every one that considers the world as a theatre, and desires to form a right judgment of those who are the actors on it.

There is another set of men that I must likewise lay a claim to, whom I have lately called the Blanks of Society, as being altogether unfurnished with ideas, till the business and conversation of the day has supplied them. I have often considered these poor souls with an eye of great commiseration, when I have heard them asking the first man they have met with, whether there was any news stirring? and by that means gathering together materials for thinking. These needy persons do not know what to talk of till about twelve o'clock in the morning; for by that time they are pretty good judges of the weather, know which way the wind sits, and whether the Dutch mail be come in. As they lie at the mercy of the first man they meet, and are grave or impertinent all the day long according to the notions which they have imbibed in the morning, I would earnestly intreat them not to stir out of their chambers till they have read this paper; and do promise them that I will daily instil into them such sound wholesome sentiments, as shall have a good effect on their conversation for the ensuing twelve hours.

But there are none to whom this paper will be more useful than to the female world. I have often thought there has not been sufficient pains taken in finding out proper employments and diversions for the fair ones. Their amusements seem contrived for them, rather as they are women than as they are reasonable creatures; and are more adapted to the sex than to the species. The toilet is their great scene of business, and the right adjusting of their hair the principal employment of their lives. The sorting of a suit of ribbons is reckoned a very good morning's

crate to in

have

work; and if they make an excursion to a mercer's or a toy shop, so great a fatigue makes them unfit for any thing else all the day after. Their more serious Occupations are sewing and embroidery, and their greatest drudgery, the preparation of jellies and sweetmeats. This, I say, is the state of ordinary women; though I know there are multitudes of those of a more sphere of levated life and conversation, that move in an exalted ties of the mind to the ledge and virtue, that join all the beau

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and w ornaments of dress, and in spire a kind of awe and rester this papect, their male beholders. I hope ked upon a

of these by publishing this daily at a well-wriif not an im

always endeavour to make an
proving entertainment, and by
vert the minds of my female reader

trifles. At the same time, as I would all-not be give some finishing touches to those which are alread appear the most

beautiful pieces in human nature, I shall

point out all those imperfections that are the hot mulemishes,

as well as those virtues which are the embe
of the sex. In the mean while, I hope thes
tle readers, who have so much time on th

will not grudge throwing away a quarter rejudic of an hour in a day on this paper, since they may eds, ab it without any hindrance to business.

I know several of my friends and well-y in great pain for me, lest I should not be a

up the spirit of a paper which I oblige my allies self to fur

nish every day; but to make them easy i

cular, I will promise them faithfully to gnd eithe it over as

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soon as I grow dull. This I know will
great raillery to the small wits, who wil
put me in mind of my promise, desire me
word, assure me that it is high time to
many other little pleasantries of the like
men of a little smart genius cannot forbe

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR. LENOX

TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

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