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out breaking the shell afterward," exclaimed Abbe Delille. "And after your egg?"

"I asked the abbe Radonvilliers to send me a piece of the hen near him."

"Bless my soul! a piece of the hen? One shou.d never speak of hens out of the hennery. You should have asked for a piece of fowl or chicken. But you say nothing about your manner of asking for wine." "Like the others, I asked for claret and champagne."

"Let me inform you that one should always ask for claret wine and champagne wine. But how did you eat your bread?"

"Surely I did that properly. I cut it with my knife into small mouthfuls and ate it with my fingers."

"Bread should never be cut, but always broken with the fingers. But the coffee-how did you manage that?"

"It was rather too hot, so I poured a little of it into my saucer and drank it."

"Well, then, you committed the greatest error. You should never pour either coffee or tea into your saucer, but always let it cool and drink it from the cup."

It is unnecessary to say that the abbe was deeply mortified at his evident ignorance of the usages of polite society.

CHAPTER XVII.

MISCELLANEOUS RULES OF ETIQUETTE

S

OME contend that mere intercourse with the world gives a habit and taste for those modest and obliging observances which constitute true politeness; but this is an error. Propriety of deportment is the valuable result of a knowledge of one's self, and respect for the rights of others; it is a feeling of the sacrifices which are imposed on selfesteem by our own social relations; it is, in short, a sacred requirement of harmony and affection. But the usage of the world is merely the gloss, or rather the imitation of propriety; and when not based upon sincerity, modesty, and courtesy, it consists in being inconstant in every thing, and in amusing itself by playing off its feelings and ridicule against the defects and excellencies of others. Thanks to custom, it is sufficient, in order to be recognized as amiable, that he who is the subject of a malicious pleasantry may laugh as well as the author of it.

PRESENTS AMONG FRIENDS.

Among friends, presents ought to be made of things of small value; or, if valuable, their worth should be derived from the style of the workmanship, or from some accidental circumstance, rather than from the inherent and solid richness. Especially never offer to a lady a gift of great cost: it is in the highest degree indelicate, and looks as if you were desirous of placing her under an obligation to you, and of buying her good will. The gifts made by ladies to gentlemen are of the most refined nature possible: they should be little articles not purchased, but deriving a priceless value as being the offspring of their gentle skill; a little picture from their pencil, or a trifle from their needle.

PRESENTS TO MARRIED LADIES.

Unmarried ladies should not accept presents from gentlemen to whom they are neither related nor engaged. A married lady may occasionally accept a present from a gentleman who is indebted to her for hospitality.

PRESENTS BY MARRIED LADIES.

Presents made by a married lady to a gentleman should be in the name of both herself and her husband.

Never make a gift which is really beyond or out of proportion to your means. For you may be sure

the recipient is thinking, even if he have the good breeding to say nothing, that you had best kept it yourself.

PRAISING PRESENTS.

If you make a present, and it is praised by the receiver, you should not yourself commence undervaluing it. If one is offered to you, always accept it; and however small it may be, receive it with civil and expressed thanks, without any kind of affectation. Avoid all such deprecatory phrases, as "I fear I rob you," etc.

MAKING PARADE.

A present should be made with as little parade and ceremony as possible. If it is a small matter, a gold pencil-case, a thimble to a lady, or an affair of that sort, it should not be offered formally, but in an indirect way,-left in her basket, or slipped on to her finger, by means of a ribbon attached to it without a remark of any kind.

HOW TO RECEIVE A PRESENT.

Receive a present in the spirit in which it is given and with a quiet expression of thanks. On the other hand, never, when what you have given is admired, spoil the effect by saying it is of no value, or worse still, that you have no use for it, have others, or anything of that kind. Simply remark that you are gratified at finding it has given pleasure.

REFUSING A GIFT.

Never refuse a gift if offered in kindness unless the circumstancess are such that you cannot with propriety or consistency receive it. Neither in receiving a present make such comments as "I am ashamed to rob you;" "I am sure I ought not to take it," which seem to indicate that your friend cannot afford to make the gift.

VALUE OF PRESENTS.

In the eyes of persons of delicacy, presents are of no worth, except from the manner in which they are bestowed; strive then to gain them this value.

GOVERNING OUR MOODS.

We should subdue our gloomy moods before we enter society. To look pleasantly and to speak kindly is a duty we owe to others. Neither should we afflict them with any dismal account of our health state of mind or outward circumstances. It is presumed that each one has trouble enough of his own to bear without being burdened with the sorrows of others.

CIVILITY DUE TO ALL WOMEN.

Chesterfield says, “Civility is particularly due to all women; and, remember, that no provocation whatsoever can justify any man in not being civil to ery woman; and the greatest man would justly be

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