MANNER—(Continued.)

RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN MAKING MORNING VISITS, AND IN SOCIETY GENERALLY.

Aversion to Ceremonious Morning Visits—Proper Hours—Suitable Brevity—Character of Conversation—Card of Announcement—Visits made at Hotels—Precautionary Rules—Mode of entering a Drawing-Room—Drawing-Room Rules—When Meeting other Visitors—When interrupted—When wishing to leave a Message or make an Appointment, etc.—Proper Courtesy when Visitors are taking Leave—Short Visits of mere Ceremony—Attendance upon Ladies making Morning Visits—Attentions Suitable—Introducing—Ladies to take precedence in rising to go away—Gentlemen calling together—Dress, etc.,—When awaiting Ladies in a Public Parlor—Standing when Ladies are Standing—Offering the Arm—Suitable Gait—Minutia of Politeness—Morning Wedding-Receptions—Whom you should Congratulate—General Directions—Tact and Good Taste—Leaving Cards—Visits on New-Year's Day—Ceremonious Intercourse with Superiors—Manner at Church—Mrs. Chapone's Rule—Self-possession one of the Distinctive Characteristics of Good-Breeding—Whispering, Laughing, Staring, etc., to be avoided—Retaining the Hat not admissible—Salutations at Church—Attending Ladies at Concerts, Lectures, Opera, etc. etc.—Propriety of Retaining the Seat you take on Entering—Incommoding Others—Courtesy due to Those near you—Manner of well-bred Persons in a Picture Gallery, etc.,—Reverence due to the Beautiful and the Good—Partaking of Refreshments in Public Places—Discourtesy of any Semblance of Intrusiveness—Etiquette in Joining a Party—Politeness not to be laid aside in Business-intercourse—Elaborate ceremony unsuitable, at times—The Secret of Popularity—Manner at a Public Table—Courtesy to Others—Self-importance a Proof of Vulgarity—"Fast" Feeding—Pardonable Luxuriousness—Staring—Listening to Private Conversations—Rudeness of Loud Talking and Laughing, Shrugs, Glances, or Whispers—Courtesy due to a Lady entering a Dining-Room—To Older Persons—Meeting or passing Ladies in Public Houses—Influence of Trifles in the Formation of Character—Frequent Discourtesy in ignoring the Presence of Ladies in Public Parlors, etc. etc.—Politeness due to Women, in Practical Emergencies—Nocturnal Peccadilloes—Travelling—True Rules—Courtesy to Ladies, to Age, to the Suffering—Indecorum of using Tobacco, etc. etc., in Public Conveyances—Ceremony a Shield, but not an Excuse—A Challenge Extraordinary—Anecdote of P——, the Poet—Practice and Tact essential to secure Polish of Manner—Life-long Stumbling—Practical Rules, the result of Annoying Experience—Carriage Hire—Driving with Ladies, etc.,—Manner in Social Intercourse—As Host—Etiquette of Dinners at Home—Precedence—Distinguished Guests—A Lady—A Gentleman—Reception and Introduction of Guests—True Hospitality as Host, better than mere Ceremony—Manner towards those unacquainted with Conventional Rules—Manner at Routs, at Home—Attention to Guests compatible with good ton—Anecdote—Respect to be rendered to all one's Acquaintances in General Society—To Married Ladies—To Strangers—The Distinction thus Exhibited between the Under-bred and the genuine Man of the World—No one entitled to Self-Excuses in this Regard,[157]

ANECDOTES, SKETCHES, ETC.

A Prophesy.—Table-Talk—A Rescue and a Lady's Gratitude—Jealousy Disarmed—Backwoodsmen—Cordiality—Costume and Courtesy—Retort Courteous—An Interpolation and a Protest—Mr. Clay's Popularity with the Fair—Secret of his Success in Society—Mr. Clay and the Belle Esprit—A Definition of Politeness—A Comical Illustration—A Pun—A well-turned Compliment—Unconsciousness of Self—A Stranger's Impressions—A Poetic Tribute,[179]
The Devotee of the Beautiful.—A Morning Drive—Anticipation—Spiritual Enjoyment—Discord—A Disappointment,[184]
The Soldier's Wife and the Ghoul.—A Journey—The truly Brave—The Arrival—A Chapter of Accidents—Self-Reproach—The Ghoul—The Calmness of Despair—The Versatility of Woman—But a Step from the Sublime to the Ridiculous—The Ghoul again—A Defiant Spirit—Punctilious Ceremony,[186]
A Fair Champion.—A Query and its Solution—A Sketch—Raillery—A Tête-à-Tête—An Interruption—"Fashionable" Hospitality—Genuine Hospitality—A Mother's Advice—An indignant Spirit—Rebellion,[193]
The Man of One Idea.—An Object for Worship—A Soirée—A Polite Colloquy—The Host at Ease—A pleasing Hostess—The Climax,[198]
Young America—an Anecdote,[200]
The Practical Philosopher.—A handsome Aristocrat—An Accusation—A Courteous Neighbor—Fall of a "Fixed Star"—Favorite Aphorism of Mrs. Combe—The Daughter of the Siddons,[201]

LETTER VII.

HEALTH.

THE TOILET, AS CONNECTED WITH HEALTH.

The True Basis of Health—Temperance an inclusive Term—Foundation of the Eminence of J. Q. Adams—His Life a Model for the Young—His early Habits—Vigorous Old Age—Example of Franklin in regard to Temperance—Illustrations afforded by our National History—The Bath—Varying Opinions and Constitutions—Imprudent use of the Bath—Bishop Heber—General Directions—The Art of Swimming—Sponging—Deficiencies of the Toilet in England—Collateral Benefits arising from habitual Sponge-bathing—The Hair—All Fantastic Dressing of the Hair in bad taste—Use of Pomades—Vulgarity of using Strong Perfumes—The Teeth—Use of Tobacco—Smoke Dispellers—The Nails—The Feet—A complete Wardrobe essential to Health—Early Rising—Its manifold Advantages—Example of Washington, Franklin, etc., in this respect—Daniel Webster's Eulogy upon Morning—Retiring early—Truth of a Medical Dogma—Opposition of Fashion and Health—Early Hours essential to the Student—Importance of the early Acquisition of Correct Habits in this Regard—Illustration—A combination of Right Habits essential to Health—Exercise—Walking—Pure Air—The Lungs of a City—Superiority of Morning Air—An Erect Carriage of the Body in Walking—Periodical Exercise—Necessary Caution—The Unwise Student—A Warning—A Knowledge of Dietetics and Physiology requisite to the Preservation of Health—Suitable Works on these Subjects—Riding and Driving the Accomplishments of a Gentleman—A Horse a desirable Possession—Testimony of Dr. Johnson—The Pride of Skill—Needful Caution—Judicious Selection of Locale for these Modes of Exercise—Dr. Beatie's Tribute to Nature—Importance of Temperance in Eating and Drinking, as regards Health—The Cultivation of Simple Tastes in Eating—Proper Preparation of Food Important to Health—Re-action of the Human Constitution—Effect of Bodily Health upon the Mind—The pernicious Use of Condiments, etc., etc.—Young Ambition's Ladder.—Hours for Meals—Dining Late—Injurious Effects of Prolonged Abstinence—The Stimulus of Distension—Repletion—Necessity of deliberate and thorough Mastication—Judicious Use of Time in Eating—The Use of Wine, Tobacco, etc.—The truly Free!—Dr. Johnson's Opinion—Novel Argument against the Habits of Smoking and Drinking—Advice of Sir Walter Raleigh to the Young—Then and Now—Council of a "Looker-on" in this Utilitarian Age—Erroneous Impressions—Authority of a celebrated Writer—Social Duties—The unbent Bow—Rational Enjoyment the wisest Obedience to the Natural Laws—A determined Pursuit in Life essential to Happiness and Health—Too entire Devotion to a Single Object of Pursuit, unwise—Arcadian Dreams—Attainable Realities—Truisms—Decay of the Social and Domestic Virtues—Human Sacrifices—Relaxations and Amusements requisite to Health—Superiority of Amusements in the Open Air for Students and Sedentary Persons generally—Benefits of Cheerful Companionship—Objection to Games, etc., that require Mental Exertion—Converse Rule—Fashionable Watering-places ill adapted to Health—Avocations of the Farmer, Tastes as a Naturalist, Travel, Sporting, etc., recommended—Depraved Public Taste—Slavery to Fashion—Habits of Europeans, in this respect, superior to our own—Modern Degeneracy—Folly thralled by Pride,[203]