inding, and turned up its title-page, which ran as
follows:--

"Brief Tractate on Diplomatic Acumen. Embracing methods of Self-Counsel
for guidance in all Societies of our fellow-creatures, conducing to the
attainment of a proper system of Conduct. Of the utmost importance to
all Persons who deem themselves Wise, or wish to become Wiser.
Translated from the Latin of Herr Thomasius. With a complete Index.
Frankfurt and Leipzig. Johann Grossen's Successors. 1710."

"Now just let me show you," said Tussmann, with a sweet smile, "what
this worthy author (in his seventh chapter, which deals with the
subjects 'Wedlock, and the Duties of the Father of a Family and Master
of a Household') says, in the seventh section of that chapter. You see,
what he says is this:

"'Above all things, let there be no hurry about it. He who does not
marry till of mature age is so much the wiser, and the better able to
cope with the exigencies of the situation. Over-early marriages produce
shameless, subtle, and disingenuous people, and sacrifice the vigour of
both body and mind. Although the age of manhood is not the commencement
of youth, the one should not terminate before the other.'"

"And then, with regard to the choice of the object of the
affections--her whom one is to love and to marry--this grand Thomasius
says, in his nineteenth section:

"'The middle course is the safest. We should not select one too
beautiful or too ill-favoured, too rich nor too poor, too high-born or
too low-born, but of like social standing with one's self. And,
similarly, as regards the other qualities, the middle course will be
found always the safest to follow.'"

"Very well, you see, this is what I have always guided myself by. And
(as directed by Thomasius--section seventeen), not only have I had
occasional conversations with the lady of my choice, but (inasmuch as,
in occasional interviews, misapprehensions may arise with respect to
peculiarities of character and modes of looking at matters, &c.) I have
taken opportunities to have very _frequent_ interviews and
conversations with her; because those frequent interviews necessarily
make it very difficult for people to conceal themselves from one
another, don't you see?"

"My dear Mr. Tussmann," the goldsmith said, "it appears to me that all
this sort of intercourse, 'conversation,' or whatever you please to
call it, with women requires one to have a good deal of experience,
extending over a very consi