[Footnote 1:  The Rainbow, near the Inner Temple Gate, in Fleet Street, was the second Coffee-house opened in London.  It was opened about 1656, by a barber named James Farr, part of the house still being occupied by the bookseller’s shop which had been there for at least twenty years before.  Farr also, at first, combined his coffee trade with the business of barber, which he had been carrying on under the same roof.  Farr was made rich by his Coffee-house, which soon monopolized the Rainbow.  Its repute was high in the Spectator’s time; and afterwards, when coffee-houses became taverns, it lived on as a reputable tavern till the present day.]

[Footnote 2:  that they may not]

[Footnote 3:  that]

[Footnote 4:  Drawcansir in the Duke of Buckingham’s Rehearsal parodies the heroic drama of the Restoration, as by turning the lines in Dryden’s ‘Tyrannic Love,’

  Spite of myself, I’ll stay, fight, love, despair;
  And all this I can do, because I dare,

into

  I drink, I huff, I strut, look big and stare;
  And all this I can do, because I dare.

When, in the last act, a Battle is fought between Foot and great Hobby-Horses

  ‘At last, Drawcansir comes in and Kills them all on both Sides,’
  explaining himself in lines that begin,

  Others may boast a single man to kill;
  But I the blood of thousands daily spill.]

[Footnote 5:  that my]

[Footnote 6:  that]

[Footnote 7:  the encreasing]

* * * * *

No. 17.  Tuesday, March 20, 1711.  Steele.

  ‘...  Tetrum ante Omnia vultum.’

  Juv.

Since our Persons are not of our own Making, when they are such as appear Defective or Uncomely, it is, methinks, an honest and laudable Fortitude to dare to be Ugly; at least to keep our selves from being abashed with a Consciousness of Imperfections which we cannot help, and in which there is no Guilt.  I would not defend an haggard Beau, for passing away much time at a Glass, and giving Softnesses and Languishing Graces to Deformity.  All I intend is, that we ought to be contented with our Countenance and Shape, so far, as never to give our selves an uneasie Reflection on that Subject.  It is to the ordinary People, who are not accustomed to make very proper Remarks on any Occasion, matter of great Jest, if a Man enters with a prominent Pair of Shoulders into an Assembly, or is distinguished by an Expansion of Mouth, or Obliquity of Aspect.  It is happy for a Man, that has any of these Oddnesses about him, if he can be as merry upon himself, as others are apt to be upon that Occasion:  When he can possess himself with such a Chearfulness, Women and Children, who were at first frighted at him, will afterwards be as much pleased with him.  As it is barbarous in others to railly him for natural Defects, it is extreamly agreeable when he can Jest upon himself for them.