LETTER III

MANNER.

APHORISM of a Celebrated Observer of Human Nature--Manner indicative of Character--Benefits of Care and Attention in Youth--The Fashionable Manner of the Day--Danger of Affectation in Manner--Americans too often Caricature their European Models--Good Sense and Manly Independence the best Guides in the Formation of Manner--True Politeness--Elegant definition of Politeness by a celebrated Author--Good Breeding inseparable from the Character of a Gentleman--Sir Philip Sidney, a Christian Gentleman--Manner the proper expression of Mental Qualities--The Laws of Convention--Their proper Use and Applicability--Conduct towards Superiors in Age and Station one Test of Good Breeding--Example of Washington in this respect--Polished Manners of the Men of Revolutionary Days--Bad Taste of Slang Language and Disrespectful Familiarity in speaking of Superiors or Parents--Reverence rendered to Age by the Ancients--Rudeness of "Young America" in this respect--The Law of Kindness a sure Correction--Possibility of Benefit to be derived from the consideration of those who have seen the World-- Disadvantages of early Neglect of Manner--Improvement always possible, at any age--Benefit of the early Acquisition of Habits of Self-Control and Self-Possession--Advantage of proper Examples in this respect, 72

THE HANDSOME ENGINEER.--A Railroad Dépót and a Dilemma--The Field-Book and Soiled Boots--The Blessings of Civilization-- An Honest Saxon Word--The Charge--The Arrival--A Recognition --A Metamorphosis--The Economy of driving in Dress-Boots-- A Whisper--The Secret of the Charm of Manner, 79

AN AFTER-DINNER COTERIE.--The St. Nicholas Hotel and Santa Claus--A Pleasant Meeting--A Social Re-Union--The _Dramatis Personæ_ of the Occasion--A Sketch--"Willard's," at Washington--The weary Child--The Courteous Strangers--A Grateful Tribute--Charge against American Ladies--Southern Manner--The Stupid Porter and the _contre-temps_--An Inference--A Scene in a Country Tavern--A French-Woman and a Yankee-Woman--Jonathan and the Snuff-box--A Tooth-ache and a Rocking-chair--Sympathy and Vivacity--The Climax of Impatience! 82

A POLITE YOUNG IRELANDER,--A Fight--An Exclamation--A Fair Vision, 91