And how did the women fare? We have seen that among the middle classes the domestic virtues were encouraged and highly extolled, and to be a 'notable housewife' was a legitimate and proper ambition; but how did the fine-lady class spend their time? Were their lives more usefully employed than those of the beaus? Addison says that he remembers the time when ladies received visits in bed, and thus graphically describes the custom:[123] 'It was then looked upon as a piece of Ill breeding for a Woman to refuse to see a Man, because she was not stirring; and a Porter would have been thought unfit for his Place, that could have made so awkward an Excuse. As I love to see everything that is new, I once prevailed upon my Friend Will Honeycomb to carry me along with him to one of these Travelled Ladies, desiring him at the same time, to present me as a Foreigner who could not speak _English_, so that I might not be obliged to bear a part in the Discourse. The Lady, tho' willing to appear undrest, had put on her best Looks, and painted herself for our Reception. Her Hair appeared in a very nice Disorder, as the Night Gown which was thrown upon her Shoulders was ruffled with great Care.' [Footnote 123: _Spectator_, No. 45.] There is an amusing little pamphlet--not a chap book proper[124]--which, though undated, bears internal evidence of the time of its birth, which gives an account of a fine lady's life. [Footnote 124: _The English Lady's Catechism._ I have seen the original edition, dated 1703.--J. A.] 'How do you employ your time now?' 'I lie in Bed till Noon, dress all the Afternoon, Dine in the Evening, and play at Cards till Midnight.' 'How do you spend the Sabbath? 'In Chit Chat.' 'What do you talk of?' 'New Fashions and New Plays.' 'How often do you go to Church?' 'Twice a year or oftener, according as my Husband gives me new Cloaths.' 'Why do you go to Church when you have new Cloaths?' 'To see other Peoples Finery, and to show my own, and to laugh at those scurvy, out of fashion Creatures that come there for Devotion.' 'Pray, Madam, what Books do you read?' 'I read lewd Plays and winning Romances.' 'Who is it you love?' 'Myself.' 'What! nobody else?' 'My Page, my Monkey, and my Lap Dog.' 'Why do you love them?' 'Why, because I am an English Lady, and they are Foreign Creatures; my Page from Genoa, my Monkey from the East Indies, and my Lap Dog from Vigo.'[125] [Footnote 125: This settles the date as being early in Anne's reign, as the galleons were captured at Vigo in 1702, and everything from Vigo was fashionable.] 'Would not they have pleased you as well if they had been English?'