And out of countenance is out of wit.”
And the moral of all is, that if a man would prosper in the world, he should, at all events, not neglect his tailor.
Of all the poets yet named, Ben Jonson is the only one who introduces a somewhat dishonest tailor, Nick Stuff, in ‘The New Inn;’ but Apollo was angry at the liberty, and visited the poet with the retributive damnation of the piece. Stuff is a “woman’s tailor;” we have none such now in England, except as makers of ladies’ riding habits. They are rare in France, but there are as many women’s tailors as female dressmakers in Vienna; and the latter often order the tailors to take measure for and cut out the dresses, which the female sewers then, to use a French term, confection. Nick Stuff used to attire his wife Pinnacia in all the new gowns he made; and in ever-changing and gallant bravery Pinnacia—but let her describe Nick’s ways of vanity after her own fashion:—
“It is a foolish trick, madam, he has;
For though he be your tailor, he is my beast;
I may be bold with him, and tell his story.
When he makes any fine garment will fit me,
Or any rich thing that he thinks of price,
Then must I put it on and be his ‘Countess,’
Before he carry it home unto the owners.