82 GENTLEMAN AND LADY S

CHAPTER IV.

Of the Carriage of the Body

THE carriage of the body seems so simple, so com-
mon, and so easy a thing, that undoubtedly on seeing
this title, many readers will think I design to send
them back to puerile and plain civility. But if they
will take the pains to reflect upon the numberless
violations of propriety in the carriage of the body, of
which they are daily witnesses; if they will call to
the mind the many strange motions, ridiculous ges-
tures, pretending attitudes, affected looks, and clown-
ish movements; if they will recollect that the car-
riage of the body ought to be in perfect harmony with
the situation, age, mind and sex, and a distinguishing
trait of the physiognomy; if they will consider the
unfavorable prejudices to which a disdainful, immod-
est, or vulgar deportment give rise, they will under-
stand my anxiety in this respect.

It is without-doubt impossible to notice all faults in
the carriage of the body. This volume would not be
sufficient for it; we must be satisfied therefore with
designating the principal ones.