The French Beds Are So
High, That Sometimes One Is Obliged To Mount Them By The Help Of
Steps; And This Is Also The Case In Flanders.
They very seldom
use feather-beds; but they lie upon a paillasse, or bag of straw,
over which are laid two, and sometimes three mattrasses.
Their
testers are high and old-fashioned, and their curtains generally
of thin bays, red, or green, laced with taudry yellow, in
imitation of gold. In some houses, however, one meets with
furniture of stamped linen; but there is no such thing as a
carpet to be seen, and the floors are in a very dirty condition.
They have not even the implements of cleanliness in this country.
Every chamber is furnished with an armoire, or clothes-press, and
a chest of drawers, of very clumsy workmanship. Every thing shews
a deficiency in the mechanic arts. There is not a door, nor a
window, that shuts close. The hinges, locks, and latches, are of
iron, coarsely made, and ill contrived. The very chimnies are
built so open, that they admit both rain and sun, and all of them
smoke intolerably. If there is no cleanliness among these people,
much less shall we find delicacy, which is the cleanliness of the
mind. Indeed they are utter strangers to what we call common
decency; and I could give you some high-flavoured instances, at
which even a native of Edinburgh would stop his nose. There are
certain mortifying views of human nature, which undoubtedly ought
to be concealed as much as possible, in order to prevent giving
offence: and nothing can be more absurd, than to plead the
difference of custom in different countries, in defence of these
usages which cannot fail giving disgust to the organs and senses
of all mankind. Will custom exempt from the imputation of gross
indecency a French lady, who shifts her frowsy smock in presence
of a male visitant, and talks to him of her lavement, her
medecine, and her bidet! An Italian signora makes no scruple of
telling you, she is such a day to begin a course of physic for
the pox. The celebrated reformer of the Italian comedy introduces
a child befouling itself, on the stage, OE, NO TI SENTI? BISOGNA
DESFASSARLO, (fa cenno che sentesi mal odore). I have known a
lady handed to the house of office by her admirer, who stood at
the door, and entertained her with bons mots all the time she was
within. But I should be glad to know, whether it is possible for
a fine lady to speak and act in this manner, without exciting
ideas to her own disadvantage in the mind of every man who has
any imagination left, and enjoys the entire use of his senses,
howsoever she may be authorised by the customs of her country?
There is nothing so vile or repugnant to nature, but you may
plead prescription for it, in the customs of some nation or
other.
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