ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES AND SKETCHES.

Sang Froid and Sandwiches.—A Ride with a Duke—The eager young Sportsman—A Rencontre—A Query and a Response—A substantial Bonne Bouche,[312]
A Frenchman's Relaxation,[314]
Polemics and Politeness—Watering-place Society—Omnibus Orations—Sulphur-water and Sacrifices—Religionists, Ladies and License, Reaction and Remorse,[315]
An unexpected Declaration—Parisian furore—The unknown Patient—Practice and Pathos,[317]
The Three Graces—Honor to whom Honor was Due—A Group for a Sculptor—Woman's Wit,[318]
Scene in a Drawing-room,[320]
Musical Mania—Guitar playing and the play of Intellect,[321]
A Fair Discussion,[323]
National Dialect—A Bagatelle,[324]
A Murillo and a Living Study—A Morning in the Louvre with a congenial Friend—A Painter's Advice—True Epicureanism,[326]
Ready Elocution and Ready Wit—A Congressional Sketch,[327]

LETTER X.

HABIT.

Habit always Indicative of Character—Its Importance not properly estimated by the Young—Rudeness and Republicanism too often Synonymous—Fashion not always Good-breeding—Social American Peculiarities—Manners of Americans abroad—Rowdyism at the Tuileries—The Propriety of Learning from Older Nations the lighter Elegancies of Life—Madame Soulé and the Queen of Spain—The tie of a Cravat and the Affairs of "Change"—George Peabody a Model American—The distinctive name of Gentleman—Great Importance of Suitable Associates—Spanish Proverb—The true Social Standard—Safeguard against Eccentricity—Habits of Walking, Standing, Sitting—Directions—Aaron Burr and De Witt Clinton—Bachelor Privileges—Decorum in the presence of Ladies—Carrying the Hat, ease of Attitude, etc.—Benefits of habitual Self-Restraint—Habits at Table—Eating with a Knife—Soiling the Lips, Picking the Teeth, etc., etc.—Nicety In Matters of Detail—Courtesy due to others—Manner to Servants in Attendance at Table—Avoidance of Sensuousness of Manner—French Mode of Serving Dinners—The Art of Carving—Helping Ladies at Table—Rule in Carving Joints of Meat—Changing the Plate—Proper Mode of Taking Fish—Game—Butter at Dinner—English Custom—Details of Habit at Table—Rights of Freemen—A Just Distinction—Unhealthfulness of drinking too much at Dinner—Fast Eating of Fast Americans—Sitting upon two Legs of a Chair—Anecdote—Habits of using the Handkerchief—Toying with the Moustache, etc., etc.—Ladies careful Observers of Minutiæ—Belief of the Ancient Gauls respecting Women—Habits of Swaggering in Public Places—General Suggestions—Ladies and Invalids in Terror of a Human War-Horse—Courtesy due while playing Chess and other Games—Self-control in Sickness—Premature adoption of Eye-Glasses—Affectation in this respect—Proper Attitude while Reading or Studying—Habits of Early Rising—A Poetic Superstition unwarranted by Health and Truth—Variance between Health and Fashion in regard to Early Hours—Aphorism by Gibbon—Habit of taking Nostrums—Avoidance of Quacks—Habit of acting as the Protectors of the Dependent Sex—Effect of Trifling Habits upon the Opinions formed of us by Women—Habits of handling Prints, Bijouterie, and Boquets, of Smoking, Whispering and Ogling, to be shunned—Importance of Methodical Habits of Reading and Studying—Value of the Gold Dust of Time—Anecdote—True Rule for Reading to Advantage—Habit of Reading aloud—Great Importance of a Habit of Industry—The Superiors of mere Genius—Habits of Cheerfulness and Contentment not to be overlooked by the Young—Cultivation of Habitual Self-Respect—Pride and Poverty not Necessarily Antagonistic—Self-Respect a Shield against the Shafts of Calumny—True Honor not affected by Occupation or Position—Benefits of a Habit of Self-Examination—The habitual Study of the Scriptures recommended—Christ, the Great Model of Humanity—Ungentlemanly Habit of being late at Church, etc.—Pernicious Effects of prevalent Materialism—Personal Enjoyment resulting from habitually idealizing all Mental Associations with Women—Defencelessness an Impassable Barrier to Oppression from true Manhood—Impropriety of speaking loudly to Ladies in public Places, of attracting Attention to them, their Names and Prerogatives—Safe Rule in this regard—The Habit of Sympathy with Human Suffering a Christian duty—Mistaken Opinion of Young Men in this respect—The Examples presented by the Lives of the Greatly Good—Mighty Achievements in the Cause of Humanity in the Power of a Few—Habits of Good-Humor, Neatness, Order and Regularity due to others—Fastidious Nicety in Matters of the Toilet, demanded by proper respect for our daily Associates—The Importance of Habits of Exercise, Temperance and Relaxation—Economy to be Cultivated as a Habit—Economy not Degrading—Habit of Punctuality—Slavery to mere System condemned—Remark of Sir Joshua Reynolds—Habit of Perseverance—Value of the Habit of putting Ideas into Words—Of Habits of Reflection and Observation—Of rendering Respect to Age, etc.—Culture of Esthetical Perceptions—American Peculiarity—Curiosity not tolerated among the well-bred—The inestimable value of Self-Possession—Its Natural Manifestations—Concluding Advice,[329]

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Jonathan and Queen Victoria.—A Stroll through the World's Palace—A Royal Party—The Yankee Enthroned—A Confession,[362]
Damon and Pythias Modernized.—A Family Council—A Celebrity and a Hotel Dinner—A Discovery—A Sketch—Telegraphing and Triumph—Beer and a Break-down—Drawing-room Chit-chat—A Young Lady's Eulogy—Retort Courteous—A New Acquaintance—An Explanation—Dinner the Second—Sense and Sensibility—A Ruse—A Request and Appointment—A Contrast—Catastrophy—A Note and a Disappointment—Fair Frankness—An Unexpected Rencontre—The Re-union—Pictures and Pleasantries—The Protector of the Helpless,[363]
A Visit To Abbotsford.—Sir Walter Scott as Colonel of Dragoons, Sheriff of the County, Host, Friend, and Author—Mrs. Hemans and Little "Charley"—Courteous Hospitality—At Driburg with Mr. Lockhart—Solution of a Mystery—Sir Walter's favorite "Lieutenant,"[382]
Confession of a Celebrated Orator,[385]
The Lemon and the Carnation.—A Stage-Coach Adventure—A fair Passenger—Churlishness and Cheerfulness—A Comic Duet—Stage-Sickness—An impromptu Physician—Offerings—Acknowledgments—A Docile Patient—Welcome Home—Arrival—A Family Group—A Discovery—Recognition—An Invitation—Hospitality—Sunday Evening at the Rectory—The Honorable Occupation of Teaching Young Ladies—A Prophesy—Family Jars—A Compliment,[386]
A Notability and his Newfoundland Dog,[400]
Extremes Meet.—European Travelling-Companion—A cool Place and a "cool" Character—A Foreigner's Criticism—Fair Commentators—Dinner-table Sketch—Three Parties in a Rail-Car—Sunshine and Showers—An Earth-Angel—Anecdote of Thorwalsden, the Danish Sculptor—A Scene—Gentlemanly Inquiries—Paddy's Explanation,[401]
Have You Been Impatient?—A Broken Engagement—About a Horse—Charley's Orphan Cousin—Ideas of Luxury—Novel Experiences—The freed Bird—Bless God for Flowers and Friends!—A Recoil—A Tirade—The Bird Re-caged—Self-Examination—Retrospection and Resolution—A Note and a Boquet—A Blush Transfixed,[412]

LETTER XI.

MENTAL AND MORAL EDUCATION.