There is another peculiar mode of choosing partners--"by foot"--but
this is conducted in a different manner, and is made to depend on the
superior beauty of the foot, as decided by an arbiter, who is chosen by
the company, and who is, of course, a man famous for his taste and
knowledge of the beautiful.
While the arbiter pursues his duties, the ladies are concealed behind a
screen, which is, however, open sufficiently at the bottom to disclose
the foot and ankle. She to whom the palm is awarded has the first choice
of a partner, and the others follow in succession in the order in which
they have been ranked. This diversion, though exciting great interest,
is not so happy as "the choice by hand." The ladies whose feet are
placed in a lower rank often think themselves aggrieved, and are
slightly jealous of their rivals, for in spite of the efficacy of my
laws, I could not--whilst giving just triumphs to superior beauty--
altogether prevent a feeling of disappointment in ladies who saw the
palm given to others by one recognised as an honest and able judge,--a
man whose taste was known to be irreproachable.
When the hand and foot of a young lady are inclined to coarseness, while
at the same time her talents and goodness entitle her to a superior
position, the fingers or toes, and afterwards the hand and foot
themselves, are bound up, for a certain number of hours each day. We do
not like "contradictions," or, as I have before observed, we object to a
garment partly of rich brocade, partly of common stuff.