ladies invite fuch treatment?) and she will become in ber manners, and fentiments abfolutely childish. On the other hand, let a girl of twelve be always confidered and addreffed as a woman, and fhe will foon talk and behave as a womans ought to do. As a further illuftration of the cafe in point, it may be afked, sif, when it was the fashion for ladies to have their bofoms bare, it can be fuppofed that the wanton ftare of the other fex at thefe indelicately expofed charms did not excite in the minds of our females emotions fimilar to those with which they were beheld, emotions not altogether pure, and the exiftence of which was placed beyond a doubt, by the confufed glances which were returned on these occafions. By the bye, no one could ever yet perfuade me that any wo man of ftrict modelty could be per+ vailed upon to follow the fashion in the particular above mentioned; and I am truly concerned to obferve, that at prefent the tuckers and handker chiefs of many are so difpofed as to prove a very flimfy veil indeed to parts which decency always requires to be concealed. 9 D girlish appearance of our fashionable nity or gracefulness. But were fuch a perfon lengthened a few inches in appearance by a head drefs of moderate height, and heels fuch as were worn fometime ago, the deformity of the difproportioned breadth would vanish, and the whole figure, inftead of exciting a fmile, by fuggefting a ludicrous simage to the mind, would command refpect. To ftate another cafe fuppofe a woman under fize to to be of a slender make, she appears, by the prefent contracting fashion, quite a girl, though perhaps old enough to be the mother of half a dozen, which befides being highly prepofterous, muft evidently leffen that refpect to which the might otherwife be entitled, and draw upon her from others a behaviour unfuitable to her age and her real charaeter; and this, I maintain will of courfe have an influence gradually to render her manners filly and infignificant. People will in general be treated according to their most ob vious appearance; and according as they are generally treated, fuch will their character become; and thus women who affect to be children in their drefs, will be childish in their manners; if they affect to be little and diminutive in ftature, they will be little and mean in their minds. And in fact it has often, and I am really afraid too juftly been observed, that the women juit now are daily becoming more and more filly and uninterefling, I had almoft faid contemptible, in their conversation, manners, and difpofition, and I am perfectly convinced, that the mode of drefs above noticed, has contributed not a little to this much to be lamented circumftance, by leffening the dignity of their appearance and confequently the refpect with which they are treated. The prefent tafte feems to be to deprefs or diminish the female figure as much as poffible. There is no elevation in the head drefs; and the heels of the fhoes are almoft, if not perfectly, flat, which, in fpite of all prejudice in favour of what is fashion able, gives a dwarfish and infignificant, and often an odd appearance to the ladies of the prefent day. If a woman happen to be fomewhat plump, and at the fame time under the ordinary fize, fhe looks fo fquat and ftuffed like, that I never fee fuch a figure but I am reminded of a fack of chaff, or a cut of stuffed pudding;-blood and fuet, well feafoned with onions and black pepper. In fact it is impoffible to conceive any thing more opposite to what may be called dig the estimation in which they are held, if advice can have any weight against a prevailing fashion, I would feriously advise all women, who are not fomewhat above the ordinary fize, to add, as much as may conveniently be done, to their apparent height, because by being thus exalted in ita ture, they add in proportion to the dignity and gracefulness of their appearance, and, agreeably to natural principles, to the improvement of their character. And in this view, I would particularly recommend fhoes with pretty high heels, fay two inches, or even fomewhat more, becaufe this addition may be made to the height of our ladies without its being much obferved, which is not the cafe with any addition above on the head, (though that may likewife be em ployed with advantage) The feet by the length of gown and petticoat are ufually fo much out of view, that a woman may move about a good deal without its being difcovered whether he has high or low heels, or whether her apparent height is natural or artificial I was much pleafed lately to oblerve in an English newfpaper, that the high heeled shoe was gradually once more getting in to fashion. I hope it may by this time be extending to Scotland, tho' I have not yet obferved the change, which, when it takes place, may juttJy be confidered as no uncertain fymp. tom of a favourable change in the female character as well as in their appearance. And in the mean time, if two or three of the most eminent fhot makers about London or Edinburgh would lay their heads together, and again bring high heels to be fafhionable, which they might eafily do, they would, in my opinion, deferve well of their country by rendering a real service to the female part of the fpecics. As fome plaufible objections have been made to wearing high heels, it is to take notice of and anfwer proper them. It has been ftated that they occafion a contraction of the finews in the back part of the leg, and thereby weaken and otherwife injure the limbs. But upon examination I apprehend it will be found, that when fuch heels were commonly worn, no fuch injury enfued. The finews naturally adapt themselves to the pfition in which they are ufually placed; and one would be apt to imagine, that when a little contracted, they are even stronger than when ftretched to their natural extent. It is however to be fupposed, that it may not always be fafe to draw them back to their original stretch, after being long contracted, and I doubt not many ftrains have been occafioned by defcending from high to low heels; but I cannot conceive any danger to follow from the finews be ing a little drawn up from their natural posture I well recolle& that when the heels were at the greatest height, the women walked as floutly and even run up and down hill with as much feeming cafe and conveniency as they do now, when the heels are quite flat. It has also been objected to high heels, that they oc cafion corns; but this objection must be wholly groundlefs, as corns are fully as frequent with the men, who do not wear high heels, as with the women who have worn the higheft. It is now even much doubted by corn doctors whether narrow shoes be the cause of corns, which they were formerly thought to be; and indeed it is certain that corns are not unfrequent with those who never wear any fhoes at all, except when they are equipped for church or market; and the truth probably is, that the true caufe of them is not yet precifely known. Another objection which has fometimes been made to high heels is, that they hurt the gait, and prevent that eafe and elegance of motion which is fo becoming a wo man. To this I can only fay, that the the matter was thought to be quite otherwise, when the fashion was otherwife, and I have again and again heard it proposed to fet a girl on high heels, (that is when they were in fashion,) on purpofe to improve her gait ; and indeed I don't see how they can injure it, or occafion any embarraffment in the movements, uulefs they are fo very high as to throw the body off its proper balance, and caufe a tripping or tottering in the step, which to be fure ought care. fully to be avoided. The height a: bove recommended will have no fuch effect, except the foot happen to be remarkably fmall; and at any rate, a little practice will entirely reconcile any one to fuch an elevation, and render it neither inconvenient nor difagreeable. The only other objection that I recollect, though it hardly merits an anfwer, is, that high-heeled fhoes are, from their ftructure, prepofterous, auk ward looking things; but this is a mere fancy, arifing from their not being in fashion; for when fashion fanctioned fuch a conftruction, it was judged to be rather handsome, and would no doubt be fo again, were it once more the mode to wear them for my own part, when they are otherwise neatly made, I think they have a tight pretty fort of appearance, and have this further ad vantage, that while a flat fhoe makes the foot appear long, they make it feem fmaller and more gimmy like, which I believe is univerfully allowed to be a point of female beauty. But were this objection to ftand good, the other manifeft advantages of adding a couple of inches to the height, fhould do more than overbalance it, and all other fuch frivolous objections. Indeed to me it appears very evident, that the different objections above taken notice of, are made merely out of compliment to the present fashion, and were it to change, they would never more be heard of, or at least allowed to have any weight. At all events, when a fashion is effentially wrong, and productive of bad effects, it ought to be laid afide, and a better one adopted. A fervile follower of fashion, without regard to good tafte or propriety, is a moft contemptible character, and never will be esteemed by any but fools like herself. If this Effay, (the work of a rainy afternoon,) happen to fall into the handsof any fenfible female, I hope the will perufe it as feriously as I have writ ten it, (and furely any thing which relates to the improvement of the female character will, on all hands, be allowed to merit a serious difcuffion,) and if the does, I am perfuaded fhe will subscribe to the opinions which I have advanced, and add to the elegauce and dignity of her appearance by adopting the fashion which I have recommended. It will furely never occur to the mind of fuch a one, that any thing which I have here faid as to one point, is anywife in prejudice to other more fubftantial ornaments or accomplishments proper for a lady and a rational being. ANECDOTES OF GEO. FRED. HANDEL AND JOHN CHRISTOPHER SMITH. HANDEL was born on the 24th of February 1686, at Hall, a City in the dutchy of Magdeburg, in the circle of Upper Saxony, where his father refided as a phyfician. He was the child of a fecond marriage. His father defined him to the profeflion of the civil law; but Handel difcovered, in his early childhood, a ftrong paffion for mufic. Ed. Mag. Of. 1799. Few inftances occur of a more early, decided, or fortunate propenfity to a particular science. Pope faid of himself that He lifp'd in numbers, and the num bers came;' Handel, though he never poffeffed a fine voice, could fing as foon as he could fpeak, and evinced fuch a preLI dilection dilection for mufic, that the father portunities of indulging his natura carefully kept out of his reach all inftruments, with the hopes of weaning his mind from what he deemed a degrading attachment. But the child contrived to obtain poffeffion of a clavicord, which he fecreted in the garret, and at night, when he was fuppofed to be afleep, the young en thufiat was awake; and the imagination may fondly view him ftriking the ftrings of his lyre,-that lyre which was to charm all Europe with its energy. It is the property of Genius to poffefs that inflexible spirit, and un alterable adherence to a refolution once formed, which defies oppofition, diminishes danger, and furmounts impediment this difpofition tyranni cally checked, preys on the temper, and fettles into gloominefs and mifanthropy, but if cherished, and warmed with moderate fuccefs, it produ ces the nobleft and most expanfive ef forts of human energy. This difpo fition was the characteristic of Handel; and his inflexible fpirit of perfeverance is marked by a trivial occurrence, which took place in the feventh year of his age. His father, purpofing to vifit one of his fons who was valet de chambre to the Duke of Saxe Weifenfeld, Handel earneftly entreated that he might be allowed to accompany him; but his requeft was peremptorily rejected, The father fet off in a chaife; and when he had travelled a few miles, he was furpri fed at the fight of his fon, who, with a ftrength greatly furpaffing his years, had fet out on foot and overtaken the carriage, the progrefs of which had. been retarded by the badness of the roads. After a fharp animadverfion, and some reluctance, the little fuppliant was permitted to take his feat, and gratify his earneft defire of vifiting his brother. At the Duke's court, Handel was not fo clofely watched by his father, as at home. He enjoyed many op propenfity; and he contrived, occafionally, to play upon the organ in the Duke's chapel at the eonclufion of divine fervice. One morning the Duke hearing the orgau touched in an unusual manner, inquired of his valet who was the performer. The valet replied that it was his brother; and mentioning at the same time his wonderful talents and predilection for mufic, and his father's repug nance, the Duke fent for them both. After other inquiries, the Duke was fo much pleafed with the fpirit and talents of the boy, that he pleaded the caufe of nature: he reprefented it as a crime against the public and pofterity, to rob the world of fuch a genius; and, finally, perfuaded the father to facrifice his own fcruples, and to permit his fon to be inftructed in the profeffion for which he had evinced fo ftrong an inclination. A more interefting fcene can hardly be conceived, than Handel liftening to the arguments of his powerful advocate, and marking his final triumph over the reluctant prejudices of his parent. The Duke became fo much interested in his fuccefs, that, at his departure, he made him a prefent, and promifed his protection if he zealously applied to his ftudies. At his return to Hall, his father placed him under the tuition of William Zackau, organift to the cathedral, a man of science and judgment. Zackau carefully instilled into his scholar a thorough knowledge of the principles of harmony, and by explaining to him the different ftyles of Italian and German compofition, he laid the foundation of that fame, which was to claim fo diftinguished a place in the annals of mufic. Handel made fo rapid a progrefs, that before he had completed his feventh year, he was able to officiate on the organ for his mafter; and at the age of nine, he began to ftudy compofition. At this early period of his life he is said tq to have compofed, every week, during three fucceffive years, a fpiritual cantata, or church fervice for voices, with inftrumental accompaniments*. Having exhaufted his fource of improvement at Hall, he became defirous of enlarging his knowledge, and was eager to obtain applaufe on a more diftinguished theatre. He made choice of Berlin as the spot, where the opera, under the patronage of Frederick the Firft, was in a flourishing state, and boafted the aid of the most diftinguished musicians of Italy; among whom Buononcini and Attilio were not the leaft con fpicuous. The fame of Handel had preceded him; but thefe two muficians confidered him a mere child, whose abilities had been greatly exaggerated: Buononcini, therefore, in order to try his fkill, compofed a cantata in the chromatic ftyle, in which he comprised difficulties fufficient to puzzle an experienced mafter. Handel, however, treated this formidable compofition as a mere trifle; he executed it at fight, with a degree of accuracy, truth, and expreffion, hardly to be expected from repeated practice, and from an aged perfor mer. But the difplay of congenial powers did not imprefs Buononcini with one fentiment of friendship, or draw from him any fymptom of kindness; though civil, he behaved to Handel with fuch referve, as seemed to imply, that the foundation of future animofity was laid at that moment. Attilio, on the contrary, fhowed him a partiality; the refult of a generous and honourable difpofition. He would place him for hours at his harpfichord, and was anxious to aid his progrefs in compofition, or facilitate his readinefs in execution. Proud to patronife so promifing a genius, Frederick frequently invited him to court, made him confiderable prefents, and, finally, propofed to fend him to Italy at his own charge. This propofal Handel was eager to accept; but his father, forefeeing that it would impofe a reftraint on his fon, declined; alleging as an excufe, that his very advanced age required his fon's prefence. In compliance with his father's injunctions Handel left Berlin, unwilling to expofe hi felf to further folicitation. Though Handel perfectly acquiefced in the propriety of the motives which induced his father to re ject the propofal of Frederick, yet the flattering reception he had met with in his two excurfions from home, opened to his view the fairest profpects of profit and celebrity. His father dying, a diminution in his mother's income induced him to repair to Hamburgh, where the opera was next in repute to that of Berlin. On his arrival he fecured an engagement at the opera-houfe, not as a principal performer on the harpfichord, but as fecond ripieno violin. So extraordinary a ftep of voluntary felf abafement will appear fingular; but it was the effect of a principle unbecoming the dignity of a great mind, which led him to affect a fimplicity, or rather humility of conduct, founded on vanity, and which his youth only could excufe, that he might enjoy the furprife excited by an unexpected difplay of his powers. L12 Such *Sir John Hawkins fays, that at the age of nine, Handel compofed motetts for the fervice of the church, and continued to make one every week for three years.Hift. of Mufic. Dr Burney oblerves, that when only ten years old, Handel compofed a let of Sonatas in three parts. It feems as if they were published. He adds, that Lord Marchmont picked them up in his travels, and that they are now in the king's collection.' The exercises to which Handel was accuftomed, obferves Sir John Hawkins, were compofitions and fugues upon airs, or fubjects delivered to him from time to time by his mafter. He adds, this is the mode of exercise for young roficients in mufic, and is alfo the test of a master. |