| 1. The American Girl | 11. Fearlessness |
| 2. The American Man | 12. Physical Strength |
| 3. The American Woman | 13. Fair Play |
| 4. The Good Athlete | 14. Energy |
| 5. The Good Student | 15. The Under Dog |
| 6. The True Aristocrat | 16. American Ideals |
| 7. The Truly Rich | 17. Success in Life |
| 8. The Ideal of Work | 18. Skill |
| 9. Good Reading | 19. A Good Time |
| 10. Good Citizenship | 20. Manliness |
DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING
Your subject must be one on which you have strong convictions as the result of personal experience. In a certain sense, your essay must represent your own life. Try to hold forward no ideals that you yourself do not uphold.
Formulate a strong central thought, and two or three subordinate and supporting thoughts. When you have done this develop your essay step by step, giving examples drawn from history or from well-known facts. Mention books that set forward the ideals you wish to emphasize.
Write in a strong, forceful, almost commanding style, but do not say “Thus and so shalt thou do.” Speak in strong terms of the principles that you admire but leave your readers to draw value from the enthusiasm of your words rather than information from directions given.
THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE
By HILDEGARDE HAWTHORNE
Daughter of Julian Hawthorne, and grand-daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne. She writes with rare charm and literary power, and contributes regularly to many periodicals. Among her books are: A Country Interlude; The Lure of the Garden; Old Seaport Towns of New England; Girls in Bookland.
The article that follows is much like an oration or an editorial article in that it is directed to “you” rather than expressive of “I”. The true essay is not concerned with “you”: it is concerned only with “I”.
Both the oration and the editorial article have much in common with the essay type; for both turn aside frequently into the happy fields of meditation.