CHAPTEE XX. 



PRETTY WOMEN MORE ABOUT SWEATING DBJVING AND 

 SHOEING MAY. 



PUPIL. "While you are smoking these rough barked 

 cigars, the consideration of other themes besides sweating 

 will, I suppose, be admissible. If you are inclined to 

 listen, I will recount to you the adventure of meeting the 

 next to the handsomest woman I ever saw. By the way, 

 the plan is a good one of characterizing the lady we are 

 describing, as not at the very summit of perfection, and I 

 will follow it, as thereby every pretty woman of my ac- 

 quaintance will imagine that she is the exception alluded 

 to, whereas, if I said the handsomest, I would have former 

 protestations thrown in my teeth, and a row raised for my 

 insincerity. 



PRECEPTOR. You will please me with the history, though 

 I must take exceptions to your construction of the reasons 

 why I called Miss P. the second in point of beauty I 

 had ever seen. The first was so pre-eminently beautiful, 

 that should I attempt to portray her, I could hardly tell 

 you the color of her hair or eyes. It would be like looking 

 on the noontide sun to discover the spots, which astrono- 

 mers tell us mar its glorious radiance, which should we 

 look for, the eye and brain would be dazed in the vain 

 endeavor to find anything to detract from the bright lu- 

 minary. You deserve to be well castigated, not alone for 

 the absence of truth in your protestations, but for having 



