NUM B. XVI. Saturday, June 26, 1756. Thus, freely each her Sentiments imparts. W ANON. HEN I had finished the Tale, my fair Auditors, who had with the utmost diffi-, culty, chained up their tongues, while I was reading it, opened all at once with clamour and impetuofity, and gave their opinions with fo much confufion, that I could only diftinguish half-formed words, and broken fentences, fuch as, "Zulimá a Coquet Hamed- a stupid "Wretch The Genius-a rigid old Fellow." But as I was very defirous of hearing the Sentiments of each of them without interruption, I intreated them to fpeak, if poffible, one at a time. My requeft was, with fome hesitations, complied with. Mifs Bloom, a very pretty Girl on my right hand, faid; "I think Zulima was "extremely ill treated; what fignifies it to be "handfomer than other people, if one is not to "be admired? one may as well be always old " and ugly, as live as if one did'nt know one was pretty. I think every Woman' fhould make ३ J "make the most of herself. I am fure the Gun nings did fo."Before I had an opportunity to answer this vivacious fpeech, Mifs Scar, a Lady about Thirty, whom the Small-póx had fpoilt for a Toaft in her twenty-fifth year, replied, "I can't help thinking in a different manner. I "have known what it was to be handfome; but "really it created fo much uneafinefs and anxie"ty, either for fear of lofing of it, or of making "nothing of it, that I begin to think Agreeable "nefs infinitely preferable to Beauty. I have "read fomewhere, but can't just now recollect "the place, for 'tis a great while ago, that the ́ "Women who had the fewest personal charms, "had always the greateft influence over the "Men." 66 Aye, faid a lively Creature, "with a pair of expreffive eyes, who feemed to "be the brightest of the Company, it does not "fignify a pin's point, whether people are hand"fome or ugly, provided they can be admired "and flattered; and for my part I had rather be "as frightful as a Witch with half a score of Lovers, than as beautiful as an Angel without "a fingle Dangler."" To be fure you are "quite right Madam, said a homely Girl, Beau"ty is only a temptation, and brings people into "all manner of mischief, as you fee by the Sto"ry.""For my part, faid Mifs Filt, I, "I don't fee Zulima had any Faults at all. I "think he was moft unreasonably punished. "What "What, must not a Woman discard a Lover, 6 it. 766 you fee. Perfeverance on his fide, might have "been of fervice to them both; he might have "reclaimed the brightest Beauty in the Eaft, and "have married her afterwards." "Now Ma"dam, replied Bellair with a smile, I cannot fee "any fault in the conduct of Hamed; he left "Zulima because he found her vain and capri"cious, and chofe, in her ftead, a Woman every way her fuperior. Not in Beauty, Sir, "interrupted Mifs Bloom eagerly. ---N, Ma"dam, faid Bellair, not fo dazling a Beauty, but ' one infinitely more pleasing, more attracting, " and more capable of fubduing and keeping a G 66 “heart; "heart; and if Zelis had been far lefs lovely "than the Eaftern Moralift reprefents her, fhe "had qualities fufficient to make her preferr'd "to any Beauty whatever. If a Woman is good "and agreeable, it matters not a pinch of snuff "whether he is beautiful." -O horrid, "Was there ever fo pre cried all the Girls " "pofterous an affertion, faid Mifs Bloom, I am “fure, continued fhe (with her eyes fixed on a Looking-glafs which was luckily opposite to her) "that beauty is a confiderable advantage to fome "Women, who know how to make a proper " use of it; and if Zulima had met with a " right fort of Man, fhe might have made her "Fortune." "I am entirely of your mind "Mifs Bloom," faid the clever Girl already mentioned, with an arch look," a great deal depends upon a Woman's knowing how to "make the most of herself; and I think it is 66 very plain, that Zulima knew nothing of the "matter. The Tale is prettily told, and if we "Girls would but take warning, we might be "the better for it: for we often fruftrate the ve"ry end of our pursuits through mere giddinefs " and inattention." There was fomething in this young Lady's manner, which gave me a great deal of pleasure; and though I had determined to fit filent, and make observations, I could not help thus accofting her: "I am very “much pleased with you Madam, said I; I "won't "won't say you are the first Female I have ever "heard own herself in the wrong, but I will "venture to declare, that there are very few of << your Sex ingenuous enough to make fo honeft a confeffion and therefore I beg you would "ftill farther oblige me, by telling me what "mode of behaviour in your Sex you particular"ly hint at, and by giving me the reason why "you act in that cafe, contrary to your fenti"Why, Mr. BABBLE, faid "fhe, with great franknefs, what I mean is, "that every Woman is defirous of having a "crowd of Admirers; and, in order to gain "ments. 66 them, think of nothing, like your Eastern "Beauty, but to make her Person as attractive "as poffible; for which purpose she is perpetual"ly diverfifying her ornaments, and practising a "multiplicity of Airs; and when she is une figu"re tout a fait achevée, away fhe goes through "the intoxicating round of fashionable diverfions "day after day, and night after night, till her "Perfon is as well known as the Places fhe freແ quents. She has then no longer the charm of "Novelty to recommend her; the dear diffi"culty (by which the value of pleasure is fo "much enhanced) of catching a glance of the "celebrated Mifs Such a one is at an end; tor "the celebrated Mifs Such a one is every where. "Every body has feen her, and therefore every "body is indifferent about feeing her." "True, G 2 "Ma |