ON FRESH AIR. 149 



our own, are much more abroad during the 

 falling dews of night than under the warm sun 

 of day, — the fox, the badger, and polecat, to 

 wit ; but we never find these animals out of 

 sorts with achings or with pains. 



He who takes a pleasure in ruminating on 

 the varied habits of animated nature will soon 

 learn the cause why man can bear so little, and 

 the brute so much, whilst under exposure to 

 the open air. Custom is allowed to be second 

 nature. To custom, then, we apply for in- 

 formation on the present subject. 



The ass goes without clothes, whilst man has 

 a garment over him ; but, were man deprived 

 of this, he would tremble in the breeze which 

 does not in the least affect his humble beast of 

 burden* The custom, then, of wearing clothes 

 has placed man in this inferiority; for those 

 parts of his body free from covering, feel as 

 little inconvenience in a storm as the ass itself. 

 Thus the hands of the ploughman, by per- 

 petual exposure to the weather, become as 

 hardy as the hide of the horse which goes 

 on before him ; and the face of a stage-coach- 

 man (alas! this fine breed is nearly extinct) 

 will bear the pelting of the north-east blast as 



L 3 



