[Footnote 1:  A Proclamation appeared the day before this Paper, ordaining a Thanksgiving for King George’s Accession to be observed on the 20th of January.]

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No. 631.  Friday, December 10, 1714.

  ‘—­Simplex Munditiis—­’

  Hor.

I had occasion to go a few Miles out of Town, some Days since, in a Stage-Coach, where I had for my Fellow-Tavellers a dirty Beau, and a pretty young Quaker-Woman.  Having no Inclination to Talk much at that time, I placed my self backward, with a design to survey them, and pick a Speculation out of my two Companions.  Their different Figures were sufficient of themselves to draw my Attention.  The Gentleman was dressed in a Suit, the Ground whereof had been Black, as I perceived from some few Spaces, that had escaped the Powder, which was Incorporated with the greatest part of his Coat:  His Perriwig, which cost no small Sum, [1] was after so slovenly a manner cast over his Shoulders, that it seemed not to have been combed since the Year 1712; his Linnen, which was not much concealed, was daubed with plain Spanish from the Chin to the lowest Button, and the Diamond upon his Finger (which naturally dreaded the Water) put me in Mind how it sparkled amidst the Rubbish of the Mine, where it was first discovered.  On the other hand, the pretty Quaker appeared in all the Elegance of Cleanliness.  Not a Speck was to be found on her.  A clear, clean oval Face, just edged about with little thin Plaits of the purest Cambrick, received great Advantages from the Shade of her black Hood; as did the Whiteness of her Arms from that sober-coloured Stuff, in which she had Cloathed her self.  The Plainness of her Dress was very well suited to the Simplicity of her Phrases; all which put together, though they could not give me a great Opinion of her Religion, they did of her Innocence.

This Adventure occasioned my throwing together a few hints upon Cleanliness, which I shall consider as one of the Half-Virtues, as Aristotle calls them, and shall recommend it under the three following Heads, As it is a Mark of Politeness; As it produces Love; and As it bears Analogy to Purity of Mind.

First, It is a Mark of Politeness.  It is universally agreed upon, that no one, unadorn’d with this Virtue, can go into Company without giving a manifest Offence.  The easier or higher any one’s Fortune is, this Duty arises proportionably.  The different Nations of the World are as much distinguished by their Cleanliness, as by their Arts and Sciences.  The more any Country is civilized, the more they consult this part of Politeness.  We need but compare our Ideas of a Female Hottentot and an English Beauty, to be satisfied of the Truth of what hath been advanced.

In the next Place, Cleanliness may be said to be the Foster-Mother of Love.  Beauty indeed most commonly produces that Passion in the Mind, but Cleanliness preserves it.  An indifferent Face and Person, kept in perpetual Neatness, had won many a Heart from a pretty Slattern.  Age it self is not unamiable, while it is preserved clean and unsullied:  Like a piece of Metal constantly kept smooth and bright, we look on it with more Pleasure than on a new Vessel that is canker’d with Rust.