The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

From the Boston Weekly News-Letter. June 2.

Mr. Draper, By giving the following Extract from a late London Magazine, a Place in your Paper, which is generally read with Attention, at this Time when the monstrous Fashion therein ridiculed seems to be gaining ground among us, you will much oblige

yours,
A Hater of Monsters.

It hath often been observed that we English People are remarkable for extremities; that is, we are remarkable for acting in opposition to those wise maxims which tells us, in medio tutissimus ibis, or in medio constat virtus. Though an Englishman, I have candour enough to acknowledge the truth of the accusation, and I think it was never more flagrantly exemplified than at present by my fair Countrywomen, in the enormous size of their heads. It is not very long since this part of their sweet bodies used to be bound so tight and trimmed so amazingly snug, that they appeared like a pin's head on the top of a knitting needle. But they have now so far exceeded the golden mean, in the contrary extreme, that our fine Ladies remind me of an apple stuck on the point of a small skewer.

If I am not mistaken, the head of the Venus de medicis measures about a tenth part of her whole body. This, therefore, we may conclude to be the just proportion. In proportion therefore as a Lady deviates in appearance from that standard, the nearer she approaches to our idea of a Monster.

How then is it possible that a fine Lady can imagine herself even tolerable in the eyes of a rational spectator, when her head makes a full fourth of her whole body. I often frequent the play houses, and between the acts am wont to regale myself with contemplating the charms of my fair Countrywomen; but really their heads are of late become so enormous, that, in order to behold them without disgust, find myself under the necessity of imagining them so many Patagonians, and consequently that the feet of those in the boxes rest upon the ground on a level with the floor of the orchestra. This I find to be a much more tolerable idea than to suppose them dwarfs with giants heads. Pray, Sir; inform these fair Ladies, that without proportion there can be no beauty; and that an oyster-woman in puris naturalibus is a much more desirable object than a brocaded monster. But, cries her Ladyship, it is the fashion. Fie, fie, my good Lady! I expected a more rational answer. Ought a woman of your understanding to be led into a manifest absurdity by a parcel of foolish, ridiculous female coxcombs and French friseurs?

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

(The Ladies here will note that the above was wrote where there are Theatres, and not where Plays cannot be acted, nevertheless they may imagine how ridiculous such Appearances are in Places designed for sacred Use.)

A Patagonian is a modest Appellation for such Ladies.