discussed in my presence, and settled,
_sans facon_,[I] with that delightful frankness and gayety, which, in
the French character, gives a charm to the most trifling occurrence.
Mademoiselle Louise then begged me to excuse her for half an hour, as
she was going to make some creams, and some _pastilles_.[J] I requested
that I might accompany her, and also render myself useful; we
accordingly went together to the dairy. I made tarts _a l'Anglaise_,[K]
whilst she made confections and _bonbons_,[L] and all manner of pretty
things, with as much ease as if she had never done any thing else, and
as much grace as she displayed in the saloon. I could not help thinking,
as I looked at her, with her servants about her, all cheerful,
respectful, and anxious to attend upon her, how much better it would be
for the young ladies in England, if they would occasionally return to
the habits of their grandmammas, and mingle the animated and endearing
occupations of domestic life, and the modest manners and social
amusements of home, with the perpetual practising on harps and pianos,
and the incessant efforts at display, and search after gayety, which, at
the present day, render them any thing but what an amiable man, of a
reflecting mind and delicate sentiments, would desire in the woman he
might wish to select as the companion of his life.'"

FOOTNOTES:

[I] Without formality, or useless ceremony.

[J] Rolls of paste, or pastry, or sugarplums.

[K] According to the English fashion.

[L] Nice things or dainties, such as sweetmeats.

CHAPTER XII.

ON DOMESTIC MANNERS.

Good-manners are the expressions of benevolence in personal intercourse,
by which we endeavor to promote the comfort and enjoyment of others, and
to avoid all that gives needless uneasiness. It is the exterior
exhibition of the Divine precept, which requires us to do to others, as
we would that they should do to us. It is saying, by our deportment, to
all around, that we consider their feelings, tastes, and convenience, as
equal in value to our own.

Good-manners lead us to avoid all practices which offend the taste of
others; all violations of the conventional rules of propriety; all rude
and disrespectful language and deportment; and all remarks, which would
tend to wound the feelings of another.

There is a serious defect, in the manners of the American people,
especially in the free States, which can never be efficiently remedied,
except in the dome