Page:A trip to the moon (IA triptomoon00mcde).pdf/32

 no Visitors to excuse her, she has call'd a Servant to reach her the Poaker from the other Side of the Fire. At all publick Places she only minded the various Appearances which others made; perhaps it may be hence concluded, that she was a Lady of good Sense and one that observ'd Mankind, to make her own Conduct the more Regular: But I assure you that she only minded the Outside, and could not smell a Beaux Brain's, for the Essence in his Wig, or discover a groveling Soul in a Brocade Wastcoat; and People that did not much care for her, were wont to say that it was a Maxim with her, that much Powder on a Beaux Shoulders signified much Sense; and smart Repartee, was denoted by an Hat, if I may so call it, made to be carried under the Arm. Yet this I may venture to say in her Praise, that she always minded one thing in publick Places, and that was the Dress of others, which she cou'd give a better Account of when she came Home than of any thing that was said; which will be an Argument of her good Judgment as long as a Philosopher is held preferable to a Verbalist, or Observations on Substances better than Observations on Words.

Her uncommon Character I confess, made me once turn Fribbigghe's Rival and pay her a Visit under the Pretence of Courtship. I am justly sensible how much I expose my self, in putting my self in competition with such a contemptible Animal as a Beaux, who has nothing but his being a Beaux to recommend him: But why may I not be allow'd this Liberty, as well as some of my Countrymen are allow'd to go to Bawdy-Houses for Speculation. When I came to her Apartment I was introduc'd by her Waiting-Maid with much Ceremony, and desir'd to sit down directly opposite to her, I suppose that she might view me the Better. But I cou'd soon perceive that she did not like me, because I made no gaudy Appearance: And I believe she took me for a Fool, for she ask'd me half a Dozen impertinent Questions before I got leave to make her an Answer to one of them; among the rest, she ask'd me what a Clock it was, tho' there was a Clock in the