ame against
her dress-maker, if some point of fashion be violated by her? Must we
not fear that animal impulse will control her actions? I recommend no
courtly airs, no studying of gesture, or look. But I must think that,
simplicity, freedom from pretence and affectation, modesty,
self-possession, escaping both reserve and boldness, and a perfectly
frank, truth-speaking manner, are deserving the culture of every female,
who seeks the true adorning, and who would give pleasure, and do good,
to others. Octavia was none the less marked by a Roman severity of
virtue, because gentleness and grace shone through her bearing. Neither
is the Christian woman the more pious, for an utter disregard of the
courtesies of life.

But lest some should misinterpret these remarks, I will add that there
must be grace at heart. Kind Feelings, or the most accomplished manners
are but a splendid hypocrisy.

Avoid discourtesy, but avoid still more a hollow, insincere, merely
outward, gracefulness. If the feelings be correct, the manner will
usually be so. Corregio painted three furies, represented by as many
young women, with beautiful forms and regular features. Looking
intently on the hair, you might see a single serpent wreathed in its
tresses; and studying the expression of their countenances, you detected
in them cunning, malice, and cruelty. Such "beauty" and grace are truly
"vain."

No single quality is so essential in society as a willingness to be
pleased. "There is one art," says a late writer, "which those whose
object it is to charm, would do well to cultivate, the art of being
charmed. For it rescues many an hour from listlessness and discontent,
by freshening all the springs of life and action, awakening in old age
the energy of youth, and persuading the weary and desponding that they
have still the power to please, and that even for them the world has
happiness in store." Opposed to this stands caprice, a morbid desire of
attention, a self-consequence, which would draw all eyes and all
thoughts to its own important person. This spirit is full of coldness,
jealousy, and every unamiable sentiment. Let the young woman forget
herself, and study the feelings of others. She will then notice the
modest, encourage the diffident, and strive to call forth concealed
talent and virtue. She will scrupulously avoid all allusions, that would
give pain to the hearer. His ill-fortune, the trade he pursues, if
unpopular, or his low extraction