ILLUSTRATIVE SKETCHES AND ANECDOTES.

To Give Eternity To Time.—The Senate-Chamber and the Dying Statesman—The Moral Sublime,[225]
Jonathan's Sins and a Foreigner's Peccadillo.—Celebrities—Dinner-table Sallies—Grave Charges—Yankee Rejection of Cold Meats—Self-Preservation the First Law of Nature!—A Mystery Solved—National Impartiality—Anecdote—Storming a Fort—Successful Defence, by a Lady, of herself!—A Stratagem—The Daughter of a Gun—An Explanation—The Tortures of Outraged Modesty,[226]
Dr. Abernethy and his Yankee Patient,[232]
Cosmopolitan Chit-Chat.—A Heterogeneous Party—The Golden Horn—Contemplations in a Turkish Caique—A Discussion—"Christian Dogs" and the Dogs of Constantinople—An unpleasant Discovery—A Magical Touch—The Song of the Caidjis—A National Example,[232]
The Imperturbable Guest.—A Dinner-Table Scene,[238]
The Youth and the Philosopher: Lines by Whitehead,[239]

LETTER VIII.

LETTER-WRITING.

Importance of this Branch of Education—Its Frequent Neglect—Usual Faults of the Epistolary Style—Applicability of the rule of the Lightning-Tamer—Variety of Styles appropriate to varying Subjects and Occasions—Impossibility of laying down all-inclusive General Rules—Requisites of Letters of Business—Legibility in Caligraphy—Affectation in this respect—Avoidance of Servile Imitation—Advantage of possessing a good Business-hand—Time-saving Importance of Rapidity—Letters of Introduction—Form Suitable for Ordinary Purposes—Specimen of Letters Introducing a Person in Search of a Business Situation, Place of Residence, etc., etc.—Introduction of Artists, Professional Men, etc.—Presenting a Celebrity by Letter—Proper Attention to Titles, Modes of abbreviating Titles, etc., etc.—Letters of Introduction to be unsealed—Manner of Delivering Letters of Introduction—Cards, Envelopes, Written Messages, etc., proper on such Occasions—Appointments and due Courtesy, etc.—Form of Letter to a Lady of Fashion—Etiquette in regard to Addresses—Letters Presenting Foreigners—Personal Introductions—Common Neglect of Etiquette in this respect—Proper Mode of Introducing Young Persons, or those of inferior social position—Of Introducing Men to Women, very Young Ladies, etc.—Voice and Manner on such Occasions—Explanations due to Strangers—Common Social Improprieties—American Peculiarity—Hotel Registers, etc.—Courtesy due to Relations as well as to Strangers—Impropriety of indiscriminate Introductions—Preliminary Ceremonies among Men—In the Street—At Dinners—Evening-Parties—Receptions—Conventional Rules subject to Changes, dictated by good-sense—Supremacy of the Law of Kindness—Visiting Cards—European Fashion of Cards—Style usual in America—Place of Residence—Phrases for Cards—Business Cards: Ornaments, Devices, Color, Size, Legibility, etc.—Letters of Recommendation—Moral Characteristic—Proper Style of Letters of Condolence—Form of Letters of Congratulation—Admissibility of Brevity—Letters to Superiors—Ceremonious Form for such Communications—Proper Mode of Addressing Entire Strangers—Common Error in this respect—Punch's Sarcasm—Diplomats and Public Functionaries should be Models in Letter-writing—An Enigma—Diplomatic Letters—Letters of Friendship and Affection—General Requisites of Epistolary Composition—Letters a Means of conferring and Receiving Pleasure—Distinctive Characteristic of the Epistolary Style—Peccadilloes—Aids facilitating the Practice in this Accomplishment—Notes of Invitation, Acceptance, Regret—Observance of Usage—Simplicity the best ton and taste—Etiquette with regard to Invitations to Dinner—Courtesy in Matters of Social Life—Error of an American Author—Ceremony properly preceding taking an uninvited Friend to a Party—Abstract good-breeding the best Test of Propriety—Proper form of Ceremonious Notes of Invitation—Use of the Third Person in writing Notes—Mailed Letters—Local Addresses, Form of Signature, etc., etc.—Requisites of Letter-Superscription—Writing-Materials—Small Sheets, Margins, etc.—Colored Paper, Fanciful Ornaments, Initials, &c.—Envelopes and Superscription—Wax, Seals, etc.—European Letters—Rule—Promptitude in Letter-writing—Study of Published Models beneficial to the Young—Scott, Byron, Moore, Horace Walpole, Washington—Sir W. W. Pepys, etc.—Curiosities of the Epistolary Style—Anticipated Pleasure,[241]

ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Warning—a Sketch of Nile-travel.—A Group and a Dialogue amid the Ruins of Thebes—Mustapha Aga and the Temple of Karnac—The Arrival—The Distribution—Delights, Disappointments, and Despair,[268]
Anecdote of the Mighty Wizard of the North,[273]
A Drawing-room Coterie of Criticism.—The Library and the Intruder—Paternal Authority—Condemnation—Comments and Criticisms—A Compliment—A fair Bevy—Wit and Wisdom—Sport and Seriousness—A Model Note and a Fair Eulogist—Paternal Approbation—What American Merchants should be—An Anecdote—Discoveries and Accessions—Apropos—Fair Play and a Ruse—A Group of Critics—An Invitation—A Rival—An Explanation and an Admission—A Rescue and Retreat—An Old Man's Privilege—Seventeen and Eighty-two—May and December,[273]
The First Billet-Doux,[284]

LETTER IX.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

Comparative Importance of Accomplishments—Difference between Europeans and Americans in this regard—Self-Education the most Useful—Peculiar Incentives to Self-Culture possessed by Americans—Cultivation of a Taste for the Ideal Arts—Desirableness of a Knowledge of Drawing—Incidental Benefit resulting from the Practice of this Art—A Taste for Music—Mistaken Conceptions of the Importance of this Accomplishment—Advantage of learning Dancing—Desirableness of Riding and Driving—Various Athletic Exercises—A ready and graceful Elocution of great Importance—A Source of Social Enjoyment—The Art of Conversation—Use of Slang Phrases—Disadvantages of Occasional Lenity towards the Corruptions of Language—The only Safe Rule—Common want of Conversational Power—The Superiority of the French over all other People in this Respect—The Salons of Paris—Pleasures of the Canaille—French Children—Practice essential to Success—The Embellishments of Conversation—Habits of a Celebrated Talker—Anecdote of Sheridan—Some Preparation not Unsuitable before going into Society—Qualities most essential to secure Popularity in General Society—The "Guilt of giving Pain"—Avoidance of Personalities—The Language of Compliment—Two Good Rules—Reprehensibleness of the Habit of indulging in Gossip, Scandal, or Puerile Conversation—The Records of "Heaven's High Chancery"—Importance of Exact Truthfulness in Conversation—The Capacity of adapting Language to Occasions of Importance—Use of Foreign Phrases or Words—Tact and Good-Breeding the Safest Guides in such Matters—Advantage of the Companionship of Cultivated Persons, in Promoting Conversational Skill—Misuse of Strong Language—Conversational Courtesies—Aphorism by Mr. Madison—Modesty Proper to the Young in this Respect—Bad taste of talking of one's self in Society—The World an Unsuitable Confidant—Quotation from Carlyle—Sympathy with Others—The softer graces of Social Intercourse—Cheerfulness universally Agreeable—A Glee in which Everybody can join—Anecdote—Human Sunbeams—Judicious selection of Conversational Topics—Avoidance of Assumption and Dictatorialness—Proper Regard for the Right of Opinion—Courtesy due to Ladies and Clergymen—Folly of Promulgating Peculiarities of Religious Opinion—Rudeness of manifesting Undue Curiosity respecting the Affairs of Others—Boasting of Friends—Anecdote—Quickness at Repartee, one of the Colloquial Graces—Dean Swift and his "fellow"—Anecdote of the Elder Adams—A Ready and Graceful Reply to a Compliment not to be Disregarded among the Elegancies of Conversation—The Retort Courteous—Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson—Specimens of Polite Phraseology—General Conversation with Ladies—Essential Characteristics of Light Conversation—Improprieties and Familiarities—Disagreeable Peculiarities—A Dismal Character—Anecdote of Cuvier—Tact in Avoiding Personal Allusions—Peculiarity of American Society—Ages of the Loves and Graces—A Young Jonathan and an English Girl—Violation of Confidence—Sacredness of Private Conversations—Politeness of a Ready Compliance with the Wishes of Others in Society,[286]