he better part of
valor.

Conduct Toward Parents.

The gentleman should exercise some tact in regard to his conduct
toward the family of his betrothed. Marked attention should be shown
toward the lady's mother. He should accommodate himself as much as
possible to the wishes, habits and ways of the household, and not
being, as yet, a member of the family, he should not presume to show
an intrusive familiarity of conversation.

The lady, on her part, should strive to show consideration,
friendliness, and a desire to please the parents of her
husband-that-is-to-be. Thus both will unite in the endeavor to
overcome that loving jealousy so natural on the part of those who see
the claims of another grown paramount in the heart of one of their
number, and feel that these new links are fast becoming stronger than
ties of blood and relationship.

The respective families should meet these advances with all kindness,
and should also endeavor, in view of the new union pending between
them, to make, if this be necessary, one another's acquaintance as
soon as convenient.

Length of Engagements.

Engagements should not be entered upon prematurely, a certain degree
of acquaintanceship proving no mean preparation for an arrangement of
this nature. But when an engagement is once formed it should not, in
the majority of cases, be of an undue length. This is a matter to be
settled by the wishes or the circumstances of the contracting parties.

It is oftimes the measure of wisdom, where the obstacle is lack of
fortune, to risk some degree of deprivation, rather than submit to a
long-protracted engagement; the man, as head of the new home, finding
a fresh motive for ambitious striving, and both parties being
preserved from that coolness of feeling too attendant upon years of
waiting. No homes are happier than those constructed on the principle
of economy and patient effort.

Broken Engagements.

Not unfrequently does it occur that circumstances arise that render
the dissolution of an engagement inevitable, and, as such a course,
unless mutual, of necessity involves an injury to the feelings of one
party, great care and delicacy should be employed in approaching the
subject.

If the occasion should arise on the lady's side, it must be remembered
that she is not bound to declare any other reason than her own sweet
will. It is better, however, for reasons to be frankly given, that the
step may not be attributed to mere capri