tion with degrading epithets, or illustrating their views with low comparisons. I need not say that all these practices are opposed to female delicacy and propriety.

In conversation, always endeavor to be agreeable, pleasant, and sensible. These are no small additions to the attractions of a young lady. In company it is not inappropriate to engage occasionally in grave and serious conversation, yet, generally, the topics should be of a cheerful character, as the object of assembling in company, is to confer mutual enjoyment and satisfaction. But in allowing the conversation to be cheerful, care should be taken not to permit it to degenerate into the frivolous or ridiculous. The amusing and instructive should both be blended together, so as equally to interest and improve those who converse and those who listen. It is time wasted to engage in conversation that has not a tendency to enlighten and improve.

To have your conversation interesting to others, it is necessary that you possess a well cultivated and well stored mind. Without this pre-requisite, there is danger that it will be insipid and irksome to the discriminating. In despite of all precaution, the true qualities of the mind will develope themselves in a free interchange of thought. While the weakness and imbecility, the selfishness and vanity, of the ignorant and untrained mind, will become clearly visible—on the other hand, the discipline and cultivatio.., the

intrinsic excellences and valuable acquirements of the enlightened understanding, will, without effort, brightly shine forth, and add beauty and interest to the possessor. This should be an additional inducement to influence young women to turn much of their attention to mental cultivation.

You will beware of egotism, as much as possible. Let self, with its importance, its accomplishments, and all its wonderful achievements, be forgotten in the desire either to please, interest, or instruct those with whom you converse, or in a disposition to learn from their superior wisdom or experience, wherein you was before deficient.

Avoid the appearance of pedantry. Your talents and acquirements should not be devoted to display alone, but to the instruction and edification of those with whom you associate. Whenever, therefore, you converse with those whose attainments are limited, instead of making a pompous display of your knowledge, and speaking in a strain above their comprehension, interspersed with hackneyed expressions, or quotations from a foreign language, or with scraps of poetry, you should accommodate yourself to their capacities, and speak in a plain, simple, instructive manner, which they can understand and appreciate. It is one of the characteristics of a discriminating and enlightened mind, to know how to accommodate itself to the condition, employment, and capacities of those with whom it converges, so that it can

impart and receive information, by an exchange of thought with the most ignorant.

Always give the strictest adherence to truth. How dark is the stain cast upon the character of the young lady, who is known to deviate from the straight line of truth. Veracity is one of the brightest jewels of the female character. Never allow it to be sullied under any pretence whatever. But by a strict adherence to truth in all cases, erect a strong pillar for the upholding of a spotless reputation.

Some young ladies, who reside in our cities and villages, when visiting their friends in the country, often exhibit a great lack of discretion and propriety. While speaking lightly, and perhaps contemptuously, of the plain appearance, dress, or habits of the people of the country, the constant themes of their conversation, are the fashions, amusements, and the superior refinement of a city life. Every thing in city or village is extolled, while all in the country is cried out against, as outlandish and vulgar. At social parties, and often at church, their whole time is spent in pointing out, and making remarks upon, the alleged boorish appearance and manners of the people. It is truly surprising that young ladies, who indulge in these practices, do not perceive their impropriety—do not perceive that this conduct shows an entire lack of good breeding, of genuine politeness and gentility--do not perceive how evident they make it appear, that those

very country people whom they ridicule as so far removed from fashion, are immensely above them in every valuable and useful qualification, in every trait of real urbanity and politeness.* Such young ladies should be aware that in this manner they make themselves perfectly ridiculous, and that in the eyes of the discriminating, they are the ones who are deficient in the most valuable qualifications of ladies. In visiting the country, you should go as learners, and not as instructors—for there are many valuable lessons, not only in industry, economy and taste, but also in the rules of propriety and good manners, that you can learn in the country, and profitably put into practice when you return. And you should avoid pressing upon your country friends, your peculiar views of fashion and manners, which too often ariginate in the degrading corruptions of the town--and, in general, allude to them no farther than to answer inquiries relating to them. Fashions deeply bordering on indelicacy, are sometimes tolerated by the vitiated taste of the city; but those who should adopt them where the purer and more modest taste of the country prevails, would be justly subjected to ridicule and

scorn.

* See definition of politeness, in "A Voice to Youth," chapter viii.

CHAPTER XII.

SELF-GOVERNMENT.

The importance of self-government, to young ladies, is so perfectly evident, that it is unnecessary to enter upon a labored argument to prove a point so clear. Having endowed us with all the powers and faculties necessary for our enjoyment and usefulness, our Creator enjoins it upon us to bring these capabilities into a proper activity, and to allow the mental and moral powers to exercise that guidance and control, for which they are so peculiarly adapted. Self-government, therefore, is a necessary duty, devolving upon us from our constitution and condition. A faithful discharge of this duty, is one of the most effectual means of securing the highest earthly prosperity and enjoyment; but its neglect will as effectually involve you in the deepest wretchedness. Know thyself, and control thyself, are two injunctions fruitful in blessings. If self-government is necessary for young men, how much more important is its exercise to young women!--how absolutely