306 THE HOME, FARM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPEDIA. 



though hindered by time, distance, or fatigue, he must strive to make his 

 professional and social duties bend to his homage at the shrine of love. 

 All this can be done, moreover, by a man of excellent sense with perfect 

 propriety. Indeed, the world will not only commend him for such devoted 

 gallantry, but will be pretty sure to censure him for any short-coming in 

 his performance of such devoirs. 



It is, perhaps, needless to observe that at such a period a gentleman 

 should be scrupulously neat, without appearing particular, in his attire. 

 We shall not attempt to prescribe what he should wear, as that must, of 

 course, depend on the times of the day when his visits are paid, and other 

 circumstances, such as meeting a party of friends, going to the theatre, etc., 

 with the lady. 



Should the Courtship be Short or Long ? 



The answer to this question must depend on the previous acquaintance- 

 ship, connection, or relation of the parties, as well as on their present cir- 

 cumstances, and the position of their parents. In case of relationship or 

 old acquaintanceship subsisting between the families, when the courtship, 

 declaration, and engagement have followed each other rapidly, a short 

 wooing is preferable to along one, should other circumstances not create 

 an obstacle. Indeed, as a general rule, we are disposed strongly to recom- 

 mend a short courtship. A man is never well settled in the saddle of his 

 fortunes until he be married. He wants spring, purpose, and aim ; and, 

 above all, he wants a home as the centre of his efforts. Some portion of 

 inconvenience, therefore, may be risked to obtain this ; in fact, it often 

 occurs that by waiting too long the freshness of life is worn off, and that 

 the generous glow of early feelings becomes tamed down to lukewarm- 

 ness, by a too prudent delaying ; while a slight sacrifice of ambition or 

 self-indulgence on the part of the gentleman, and a little descent from 

 pride of station on the lady's side, might have insured years of satisfied 

 love and happy wedded life. 



On the other hand, we would recommend a long courtship as advisable 

 when the friends on both sides favouring the match it happens that 

 the fortune of neither party will prudently allow an immediate marriage. 

 The gentleman, we will suppose, has his way to make in his profession or 

 business, and is desirous not to involve the object of his affection in the 

 distressing inconvenience, if not the misery, of straightened means. He 

 reflects that for a lady it is an actual degradation, however love may en- 

 noble the motive of her submission, to descend from her former footing in 



