A friend exaggerates a man’s virtues, an enemy inflames his crimes.

Spectator, Nº 399.

Would it not be neater to study uniformity instead of variety? as thus:

A friend exaggerates a man’s virtues, an enemy his crimes.

For here the contrast is only betwixt a friend and an enemy; and betwixt all the other circumstances, including the members of the period, the resemblance ought to be preserved as entire as possible.

Speaking of a lady’s head-dress:

About ten years ago it shot up to a very great height, insomuch that the female part of our species were much taller than the men.

Spectator, Nº 98.

It should be,