LETTER IX.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

Comparative Importance of Accomplishments--Difference between Europeans and Americans in this regard--Self-Education the most Useful--Peculiar Incentives to Self-Culture possessed by Americans--Cultivation of a Taste for the Ideal Arts-- Desirableness of a Knowledge of Drawing--Incidental Benefit resulting from the Practice of this Art--A Taste for Music-- Mistaken Conceptions of the Importance of this Accomplishment --Advantage of learning Dancing--Desirableness of Riding and Driving--Various Athletic Exercises--A ready and graceful Elocution of great Importance--A Source of Social Enjoyment --The Art of Conversation--Use of Slang Phrases--Disadvantages of Occasional Lenity towards the Corruptions of Language-- The only Safe Rule--Common want of Conversational Power-- The Superiority of the French over all other People in this Respect--The Salons of Paris--Pleasures of the _Canaille_-- French Children--Practice essential to Success--The Embellishments of Conversation--Habits of a Celebrated Talker --Anecdote of Sheridan--Some Preparation not Unsuitable before going into Society--Qualities most essential to secure Popularity in General Society--The "Guilt of giving Pain"--Avoidance of Personalities--The Language of Compliment--Two Good Rules--Reprehensibleness of the Habit of indulging in Gossip, Scandal, or Puerile Conversation--The Records of "Heaven's High Chancery"--Importance of Exact Truthfulness in Conversation--The Capacity of adapting Language to Occasions of Importance--Use of Foreign Phrases or Words--Tact and Good-Breeding the Safest Guides in such Matters--Advantage of the Companionship of Cultivated Persons, in Promoting Conversational Skill--Misuse of Strong Language--Conversational Courtesies--Aphorism by Mr. Madison--Modesty Proper to the Young in this Respect--Bad taste of talking of one's self in Society--The World an Unsuitable Confidant--Quotation from Carlyle--Sympathy with Others--The softer graces of Social Intercourse--Cheerfulness universally Agreeable--A Glee in which Everybody can join --Anecdote--Human Sunbeams--Judicious selection of Conversational Topics--Avoidance of Assumption and Dictatorialness--Proper Regard for the Right of Opinion --Courtesy due to Ladies and Clergymen--Folly of Promulgating Peculiarities of Religious Opinion--Rudeness of manifesting Undue Curiosity respecting the Affairs of Others--Boasting of Friends--Anecdote--Quickness at Repartee, one of the Colloquial Graces--Dean Swift and his "fellow"-- Anecdote of the Elder Adams--A Ready and Graceful Reply to a Compliment not to be Disregarded among the Elegancies of Conversation--The Retort Courteous--Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson--Specimens of Polite Phraseology--General Conversation with Ladies--Essential Characteristics of Light Conversation--Improprieties and Familiarities-- Disagreeable Peculiarities--A Dismal Character--Anecdote of Cuvier--Tact in Avoiding Personal Allusions--Peculiarity of American Society--Ages of the Loves and Graces--A Young Jonathan and an English Girl--Violation of Confidence-- Sacredness of Private Conversations--Politeness of a Ready Compliance with the Wishes of Others in Society, 286

ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES AND SKETCHES.

SANG FROID AND SANDWICHES.--A Ride with a Duke--The eager young Sportsman--A Rencontre--A Query and a Response--A substantial _Bonne Bouche_, 312

A Frenchman's Relaxation, 314

Polemics and Politeness--Watering-place Society--Omnibus Orations--Sulphur-water and Sacrifices--Religionists, Ladies and License, Reaction and Remorse, 315

An unexpected Declaration--Parisian _furore_--The unknown Patient--Practice and Pathos, 317

The Three Graces--Honor to whom Honor was Due--A Group for a Sculptor--Woman's Wit, 318

Scene in a Drawing-room, 320

Musical Mania--Guitar playing and the play of Intellect, 321

A Fair Discussion, 323

National Dialect--A Bagatelle, 324

A Murillo and a Living Study--A Morning in the Louvre with a congenial Friend--A Painter's Advice--True Epicureanism, 326

Ready Elocution and Ready Wit--A Congressional Sketch, 327