[BNP/E3, 13A – 78]
Secondly let us consider the people of this very strange land. The people of this race are mostly fair and golden haired or red-haired; some of them are very good-looking but the welk are ugly and affected. They are more tall than short and better developed than are people. In work they are either tradesmen, or clerks; if they do not work they are either nobles or paupers; of which latter kind indeed half the nation consists. The men are manly but {…}
The women in the middle and lower classes are very stupid. Those of the highest class are clever and accomplished those of the class between, which they call society, appear to me to be actresses or dancing women – which fact I have deduced from this manner of dressing and of action, which is like that of the ancient Roman togatae. The women do not spin or work (at which I was much astonished) but they spend this time in little trifles and in leaning eagerly to be more stupid than before. They are, many of them, addicted to manly pursuits, insomuch that I ascertain they were trying to join in the government of the Land, and, if I mistake not, to defend cases in law-courts and have a share in the voting. Which reminded one of the ape that tried to be a man, and of the answer of Hector to his wife –