or THK sriTui; M-RIXC COURTSHIP. 395 



]>ected calamity to himself, may be the cause, then must the reason be 

 clearly and fully explained, in such a manner as to soothe the painful 

 feelings which .such a result must necessarily occasion to the lady and her 

 friends. It is scarcely necessary to point out the necessity for observing 

 great caution in all that relates to the antecedents of an engagement that 

 has been Woken off; especially the return on either side of presents and 

 of all letters that have passed. 



This last allusion brings us to the consideration of 



Correspondence, 



Letter-writing is one great test of ability and cultivation, as respects 

 both sexes. The imperfection of education may be to some extent con- 

 cealed or glossed over in conversation, but cannot fail to stand out con- 

 s]>icuon>ly in a letter. An ill-written letter infallibly betrays the vulgar- 

 ity and ignorance indicative of a mean social position. 



But there is something more to be guarded against than even bad writ- 

 tip 1 worse spelling in a correspondence : saying too much writing 

 that kind of matter which will not bear to be read by other eyes than 

 those for which it was originally intended. That this is too frequently 

 done is amply proved by the love letters often read in a court of law, the 

 t affecting passages from which occasion " roars of laughter " and the 

 deri-ive Comments of merry-making counsel. Occurrences of this kind 

 ve ho\v frequently letters are not returned or burned when an affair of 

 the 1 broken off. Correspondence between lovers should at all 



mpered with discretion ; and on the lady's part particularly, 

 li'iiiate expressions should not degenerate into a silly M vie of 

 fond' 



aa well to remark here, that in correspondence l'-t \veen a couple 

 ;ally engaged, the use of Christian name^ in addressing each oi 

 \ oidcd. 



Demeanour of the Suitor during Courtship. 



of a gentleman are ever chaiaetei i/.ed l.y urbanity and a 

 minir eunsideratinn for tin- feeling and \\ i , and by a 



IS to pnM !' denial. Hut the very nature < >f court >hi] 



dent <jiialitiex on hi The 



\vhether el 

 fill ,ood for the time nf hi- l.ld\ --Invr. whose .-liirl: 



In 1 fco her be nni-t al!..\v f nn stint - 



