blush to anyone.

Do not allow yourself to speak ill of the absent one if it can be avoided.
The day may come when some friend will be needed to defend you in your
absence.

Do not speak with contempt and ridicule of a locality which you may be
visiting. Find something to truthfully praise and commend; thus make
yourself agreeable.

Do not make a pretense of gentility, nor parade the fact that you are a
descendant of any notable family. You must pass for just what you are, and
must stand on your own merit.

Do not contradict. In making a correction say, "I beg your pardon, but I
had the impression that it was so and so." Be careful in contradicting, as
you may be wrong yourself.

Do not be unduly familiar; you will merit contempt if you are. Neither
should you be dogmatic in your assertions, arrogating to yourself such
consequences in your opinions.

Do not be too lavish in your praise of various members of your own family
when speaking to strangers; the person to whom you are speaking may know
some faults that you do not.

Do not feel it incumbent upon yourself to carry your point in conversation.
Should the person with whom you are conversing feel the same, your talk may
lead into violent argument.

Do not try to pry into the private affairs of others by asking what their
profits are, what things cost, whether Melissa ever had a beau, and why
Amarette never got married? All such questions are extremely impertinent
and are likely to meet with rebuke.

Do not whisper in company; do not engage in private conversation; do not
speak a foreign language which the general company present may not
understand, unless it is understood that the foreigner is unable to speak
your own language.

* * * * *

{84}

THE TOILET

OR

The Care of the Person.

* * * * *

IMPORTANT RULES.

[Illustration: Widower Jones and Widow Smith.]

1. GOOD APPEARANCE.--The first care of all persons should be for their
personal appearance. Those who are slovenly or careless in their habits are
unfit for refined society, and cannot possibly make a good appearance in
it. A well-bred person will always cultivate habits of the most scrupulous
neatness. A gentleman or lady is always well dressed. The garment may be
plain or of coarse material, or even worn "thin and shiny," but if it is
carefully brushed and neat it can be worn with dignity. {85}

2. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS