The portions of the book which relates to behaviour towards teachers, and to the treatment of servants, is excellent. On the latter topic particularly, the remarks are conceived in the truest spirit of Christian philanthropy, and entitle Mrs. Farrar to the respect of all the right-minded and true-hearted.

As all other sensible women would do, on the subject of dress, our authoress advises not to sacrifice health, delicacy, convenience, just economy, or even taste, to fashion. If a fashion is objectionable on any of these grounds, it should be rejected; at the same time, that it is desirable not to deviate so entirely from prevailing modes of dress as to render one's self peculiar, and an object of remark on that account. An extreme devotion to fashion, is a mark of a vulgar mind; and in cases where it involves unjustifiable expense, either of time or money, or an exposure of the health, it is the mark, also, of an unprincipled mind. We agree with our author in this, also, that a very simple style of dress is by far the most pleasing in the young; and that the richest articles of apparel look not well when worn by persons with whose general style of dress and living they do not comport. We are glad, too, to quote the following passage deprecating a display of finery at church :-"If our ladies were obliged to appear at church all dressed alike, in some very plain guise, I fear their attendance on public worship would not be so frequent as it is now. Better than this, however, far better would it be, if every soberminded Christian woman would dress at all times in a style suited to her character, and not let the tyranny of fashion force upon her an outward seeming wholly at variance with the inward reality. I hope the time is not distant when it will be considered ungenteel to be gaily dressed in walking the streets of cities, towns, and villages; when a plain bonnet that shades the face, a plain dress, and thick shoes and stockings, shall be as indispensable to the walking costume of an American lady as they are to that of most Europeans." The conclusion of this passage reminds us of a very mortifying fact, which has been repeatedly asserted, namely, that the ladies who walk the streets of one of our large cities are often taken by foreigners, unacquainted with their habits of dress, for courtesans, because, in Europe, no other class adopts, in public, such a butterfly costume.

Thus far we have found much to commend and but little to condemn in the work before us; yet there are some portions of it to which we object so strongly that we almost doubt whether, on the whole, it will not do more harm than good. In the

first place, in the directions to young ladies in regard to their health, and personal habits connected with it, there is an unnecessary, and, we should think, to them very painful minuteness. They must feel as if the doors of their dressing rooms and sleeping apartments had been thrown open to the public, and their very persons exposed to its gaze. We cannot reconcile the fastidiousness which prescribes to a young lady not to allow a gentleman to assist her in putting on her cloak or shawl, (p. 293) with the full and free discussion, in a book, which, because it is addressed to young ladies, will be curiously examined by young gentlemen, of topics which the former would hardly discourse about with one another, and which belongs to a mother's peculiar province, or with the inculcation of practices which, instead of being directly enjoined, had much better be inferred from general rules of health, applying, not to a particular class, but to the whole race of man.

If it be contended that all scruples should be waived when important objects are to be gained, we reply, that if this be true in part, it is true in the whole; and the author, herself, would probably be very unwilling to act fully upon this principle in a book addressed to young ladies. We admit the paramount importance of the subject of health, and would have no necessary instruction upon it withheld from young ladies more than from others; yet Dr. Combe, from whose excellent work Mrs. Farrar makes large extracts, without being as explicit is as easily understood, and has already disciples among the female sex; so well imbibed with his principles and trained in their practice, that they need not a single one of our author's instructions on this subject. Had that gentleman, however, thought it necessary to be equally explicit, we should not have made the same objection. His is a book on health, and it is written for all; therefore it is not likely to fasten many errors or revolting associations upon a particular class. But we see very little difference between addressing such things to young ladies, through the medium of a book expressly prepared for them, and thus put forth to the world, and pronouncing them in a public lecture; which certainly would not be tolerated. The sex have their sanctuary, the veil of which should never be lifted; its rights should be respected, its secrets carefully guarded, especially by those who share its privileges.

So far are we from undervaluing this same subject of health, that we are always glad to see it brought forward and enforced. Next to a good conscience and the light of knowledge, it is undoubtedly the greatest blessing of this life. Yet, in a ma

jority of cases it is left out of the question to take its chance. The time has been when mothers have been found silly and wicked enough to desire for their daughters, pale cheeks, languid looks, and attenuated forms; and daughters, worthy of such mothers, who thought a ruddy hue, and fulness of person, almost as great a calamity as could befal them. Such folly may still be extant, but we hope it is giving place to more rational views.

In regard to the deportment of young ladies on all occasions, there is a precision required of them by our author, which would, wherever adopted, destroy all that freedom and naturalness which, after all, constitute the greatest charm both in mind and manners, and without which there is little scope for the varieties of individual character. The following directions are given in regard to their deportment in the street:

"You should converse in low tones, and never laugh audibly; you should not stare at people, nor turn round to look at them when passed; you must leave off your juvenile tricks of eating as you walk along, going without gloves, swinging your bag, untying your bonnet, running to overtake a person, or beckoning to a friend. These things may seem very harmless in themselves, but they all serve to give an impression of character; and, as persons who see you only in the streets must judge of you by what occurs there, it is desirable that all your actions, movements, and looks should indicate modesty and refinement." p. 333.

In the first place, the reason given for these instructions is not the proper one, as it is very little consequence what those who see you only in the street think of you. A proper selfrespect, and a desire to conform to the customs of those by whom you are surrounded, because such conformity is a proper mark of respect to them, are the motives which should regulate the conduct as far as mere artificial manners are concerned. A natural sense of propriety would prevent young ladies from transgressing in any important particular specified in the above paragraph. But we object to that extreme strictness which should exclude the possibility of their being ever thrown off their guard in these respects by any circumstance

whatever..

Persons who are exceedingly proper in trifles, are apt to be narrow-minded upon all subjects; to lose the power of discriminating between essentials and non-essentials, between what is intrinsic and what is superficial; and to be governed by the strict letter of all laws, human and divine. There is another instance of Mrs. Farrar's extreme and unnecessary minuteness: "If you perceive a lady to be in danger of losing

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some article of dress, such as a veil or boa, collar or handkerchief, tell her of it, with grave politeness"! Why with grave politeness? it is too slight a thing to require being done in any particular manner.

The following are some of the author's instructions in regard to dinner parties:

"Arrived at the place, and disrobed of your shawl or cloak, let your gloves be on, and with erect carriage and firm step enter the drawing-room with your parents, either three together, or following them alone, or on the arm of a friend or sister. Look towards the lady of the house, and walk up at once to her; not turning to the right or left, or noticing any one till you have made your courtesy to her and to the host. Then you may turn off towards the young people, and take a seat among them with that agreeable expression of ready sympathy on your face, which encourages conversation." p. 341.

Again :

"A child, a picture, an animal, or a bunch of flowers, may furnish topics for conversation until dinner is announced." p. 342.

Would not one imagine the first of these directions to be given by a drill serjeant upon the parade ground? Think, too, of a rule prescribing the expression of the countenance and topics of conversation! The following instructions are given in regard to the deportment at table :

"When fairly seated in the right place, spread your napkin in your lap to protect your dress from accident; take off your gloves, and put them in your lap under the napkin [!] If soup is helped first, take some, whether you like it or not; because, if you do not, you alone may be unemployed, or else the regular progress of things is disturbed to help you to some other dish; so take the soup, and sip a few spoonfuls, if you do no more. Where the old fashion of challenging ladies to take wine prevails, it generally begins directly after soup; if you are asked, do not refuse, because that is a rebuff; but accept the challenge graciously, choose one of the wines named to you, and when your glass is filled, look full at the gentleman you are to drink with, then drop your eyes as you bow your head to him, and lift the glass to your lips whether you drink a drop or not. If challenged a second time, accept, and have a drop added to your glass and bow as before." p. 343.

Does not this last sound very much like a recipe? But again:

"If you are puzzled what to choose of all the variety which the second course presents, and the lady of the house invites you particularly to take of a certain dish, let that determine you. Where the champagne is given between the courses, a young lady may

very properly take one glass; but when it comes round a second time, let her cover the top of the glass with her hand [!] as a signal to the servant that she will take no more. If little glass bowls, with water in them, called finger glasses, are served round to each person at the end of the second course, it is that you may dip your fingers in, and wipe them on your napkin. Observe whether, after this, the lady of the house throws her napkin on the table or retains it, and do likewise, for the customs of houses vary. ***** Be sure to get through with your dessert, and have your gloves on, ready to move by the time the lady of the house gives the signal; and take pains not to put yourself, or your chair, in the way of those who are passing down the room to the door.

"The time between leaving the dinner-table and being joined by the gentlemen, is generally a very easy and social one with the ladies; the young ones walk about, or run up stairs, or play with children, or have some jokes or stories in a corner by themselves; whilst the matrons discourse of their own affairs. If your dress wants any adjusting, this is the time to attend to it," &c. &c. &c. p. 347. 348,

All this may be very well as an automatical exhibition, but is it likely to be any thing else? Besides, without daily practice young ladies could scarcely equal, in automatics, their Shaker sisters; and, verily, it appears to us that the latter should be left in undisturbed possession of the only claim to admiration which they ever think of preferring. Truly must the author say, that "a dinner well performed by all the actors in it, is very fatiguing "if it must needs be performed; but why have it a performance? mayhap, a pantomime, too, for so much attention to form must be a great hindrance to conversation. Except in regard to the general ordering and arrangement of such a party, which are learned upon very slight observation, why have any strict rule whatever? why not allow some modification of manner from individual character?

If a young lady have native sense, refinement, and benevolence, she may be sure of not offending in any point essential to good-breeding, or the proper enactment of her part in society. If she have not, all the rules in the world will not supply the deficiency, or make her agreeable and pleasing. We object to this extreme scrupulousness in mere matters of form, not only because it is in very bad taste, but because it has, in many instances, a very injurious tendency. Where undue importance is assigned to what is merely extrinsic and adventitious, there is little chance for a just appreciation of the proper ends and objects of life.

It is not, however, merely in ceremonious parties, and in the