be the means of much profit; but nothing is more execrable
than the frivolous, silly, often absolutely senseless observations
which make up the great bulk of the conversation of young people in
fashionable society.

The most ready means of disclosing the superficial character of the
minds of a large share of the young persons who move in fashionable
circles is to introduce some topic requiring depth of thought and sound
judgment. Such a subject will usually produce either an instant lull
in the conversation or a display of ignorance which cannot fail to
reveal the shallowness of the speaker's intellect. It is this
superficial class of minds that most easily fall victims to a sickly
sentimentalism, which readily leads to digressions from the pathway
of rigid virtue.

A boy who has the elements of true manliness in him will carry a
gentlemanly bearing wherever he goes. In all his deportment, and
especially in his conduct toward the opposite sex, he will act the
gentleman; and the boy whose gentility is genuine will manifest the
same kind deference toward his mother and sisters as toward other ladies
and girls. So also the young lady who is a lady at heart, will never
allow herself to forget the rules of propriety, whether she is in the
company of her father and brothers, or that of other gentlemen.

All the rules of etiquette are worth little compared with the one simple
rule which is applicable to both sexes and all ages,--"Have the heart
right, and then act natural." One so governed will not go very far astray
under any circumstances; but it is of the greatest importance that the
heart be right. To make it such is, indeed, the great business of life.

"BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART."

INDEX.

PAGE.

Abortion, 271

" results of, 280

Accidental pregnancy, 236

Adaptation to marriage, 127

Advice to boys, 468

Advice to girls, 499

Advice to boys and girls, 501

Afterbirth, 68

Amativeness, 177

Amaurosis, 369

Amenorrhoea, 95

Animalcula, 26

Ante-natal influences, 105

Antediluvian wickedness, 286

Bad language, 461

Bad company, 458

Bad books, 462

" " influence of, 463

" " effects of, 486

Balls, demoralizing effect of, 204

Beauty, how to develop, 473

Beer-drinking by nursing mothers, 71

Beer, evil effects of, 467

Betrothal of infants, 138

Birth, changes at, 69

Bladder, irritation of, 203

Boarding-schools,