Chapter XI: Letter X: Habit

HABIT always Indicative of Character--Its Importance not
properly estimated by the Young--Rudeness and Republicanism
too often Synonymous--Fashion not always Good-breeding--
Social American Peculiarities--Manners of Americans abroad
--Rowdyism at the Tuileries--The Propriety of Learning from
Older Nations the lighter Elegancies of Life--Madame Soule
and the Queen of Spain--The tie of a Cravat and the Affairs
of "Change"--George Peabody a Model American--The distinctive
name of Gentleman--Great Importance of Suitable Associates--
Spanish Proverb--The true Social Standard--Safeguard against
Eccentricity--Habits of Walking, Standing, Sitting--
Directions--Aaron Burr and De Witt Clinton--Bachelor
Privileges--Decorum in the presence of Ladies--Carrying the
Hat, ease of Attitude, etc.--Benefits of habitual
Self-Restraint--Habits at Table--Eating with a Knife--Soiling
the Lips, Picking the Teeth, etc., etc.--Nicety In Matters of
Detail--Courtesy due to others--Manner to Servants in
Attendance at Table--Avoidance of Sensuousness of Manner--
French Mode of Serving Dinners--The Art of Carving--Helping
Ladies at Table--Rule in Carving Joints of Meat--Changing the
Plate--Proper Mode of Taking Fish--Game--Butter at Dinner--
English Custom--Details of Habit at Table--Rights of Freemen--
A Just Distinction--Unhealthfulness of drinking too much at
Dinner--Fast Eating of Fast Americans--Sitting upon two Legs
of a Chair--Anecdote--Habits of using the Handkerchief--Toying
with the Moustache, etc., etc.--Ladies careful Observers of
Minutiae--Belief of the Ancient Gauls respecting Women--Habits
of Swaggering in Public Places--General Suggestions--Ladies
and Invalids in Terror of a Human War-Horse--Courtesy due
while playing Chess and other Games--Self-control in Sickness
--Premature adoption of Eye-Glasses--Affectation in this
respect--Proper Attitude while Reading or Studying--Habits
of Early Rising--A Poetic Superstition unwarranted by Health
and Truth--Variance between Health and Fashion in regard to
Early Hours--Aphorism by Gibbon--Habit of taking Nostrums--
Avoidance of Quacks--Habit of acting as the Protectors of
the Dependent Sex--Effect of Trifling Habits upon the
Opinions formed of us by Women--Habits of handling Prints,
Bijouterie, and Boquets, of Smoking, Whispering and Ogling,
to be shunned--Importance of Methodical Habits of Reading
and Studying--Value of the Gold Dust of Time--Anecdote--
True Rule for Reading to Advantage--Habit of Reading aloud
--Great Importance of a Habit of Industry--The Superiors of
mere Genius--Habits of Cheerfulness and Contentment not to
be overlooked by the Young--Cultivation of Habitual
Self-Respect--Pride and Poverty not Necessarily Antagonistic
--Self-Respect a Shield against the Shafts of Calumny--True
Honor not affected by Occupation or Position--Benefits of
a Habit of Self-Examination--The habitual Study of the
Scriptures recommended--CHRIST, the Great Model of Humanity
--Ungentlemanly Habit of being late at Church, etc.--
Pernicious Effects of prevalent Materialism--Personal
Enjoyment resulting from habitually idealizing all Mental
Associations with Women--Defencelessness an Impassable
Barrier to Oppression from true Manhood--Impropriety of
speaking loudly to Ladies in public Places, of attracting
Attention to them, their Names and Prerogatives--Safe Rule in
this regard--The Habit of Sympathy with Human Suffering a
Christian duty--Mistaken Opinion of Young Men in this
respect--The Examples presented by the Lives of the Greatly
Good--Mighty Achievements in the Cause of Humanity in the
Power of a Few--Habits of Good-Humor, Neatness, Order and
Regularity due to others--Fastidious Nicety in Matters of the
Toilet, demanded by proper respect for our daily Associates
--The Importance of Habits of Exercise, Temperance and
Relaxation--Economy to be Cultivated as a Habit--Economy
not Degrading--Habit of Punctuality--Slavery to mere System
condemned--Remark of Sir Joshua Reynolds--Habit of
Perseverance--Value of the Habit of putting Ideas into
Words--Of Habits of Reflection and Observation--Of rendering
Respect to Age, etc.--Culture of Esthetical Perceptions--
American Peculiarity--Curiosity not tolerated among the
well-bred--The inestimable value of Self-Possession--Its
Natural Manifestations--Concluding Advice, 329

ILLUSTRATIONS.

JONATHAN AND QUEEN VICTORIA.--A Stroll through the World's
Palace--A Royal Party--The Yankee Enthroned--A Confession, 362

DAMON AND PYTHIAS MODERNIZED.--A Family Council--A Celebrity
and a Hotel Dinner--A Discovery--A Sketch--Telegraphing and
Triumph--Beer and a Break-down--Drawing-room Chit-chat--A
Young Lady's Eulogy--Retort Courteous--A New Acquaintance--
An Explanation--Dinner the Second--Sense and Sensibility--A
Ruse--A Request and Appointment--A Contrast--Catastrophy--A
Note and a Disappointment--Fair Frankness--An Unexpected
Rencontre--The Re-union--Pictures and Pleasantries--The
Protector of the Helpless, 363

A VISIT TO ABBOTSFORD.--Sir Walter Scott as Colonel of
Dragoons, Sheriff of the County, Host, Friend, and Author
--Mrs. Hemans and Little "Charley"--Courteous Hospitality
--At Driburg with Mr. Lockhart--Solution of a Mystery--
Sir Walter's favorite "Lieutenant," 382

Confession of a Celebrated Orator, 385

THE LEMON AND THE CARNATION.--A Stage-Coach Adventure--A
fair Passenger--Churlishness and Cheerfulness--A Comic
Duet--Stage-Sickness--An impromptu Physician--Offerings
--Acknowledgments--A Docile Patient--Welcome Home--Arrival
--A Family Group--A Discovery--Recognition--An Invitation
--Hospitality--Sunday Evening at the Rectory--The Honorable
Occupation of Teaching Young Ladies--A Prophesy--Family Jars
--A Compliment, 386

A Notability and his Newfoundland Dog, 400

EXTREMES MEET.--European Travelling-Companion--A cool
Place and a "cool" Character--A Foreigner's Criticism--
Fair Commentators--Dinner-table Sketch--Three Parties in
a Rail-Car--Sunshine and Showers--An Earth-Angel--Anecdote
of Thorwalsden, the Danish Sculptor--A Scene--Gentlemanly
Inquiries--Paddy's Explanation, 401

HAVE YOU BEEN IMPATIENT?--A Broken Engagement--About a Horse
--Charley's Orphan Cousin--Ideas of Luxury--Novel Experiences
--The freed Bird--Bless God for Flowers and Friends!--A
Recoil--A Tirade--The Bird Re-caged--Self-Examination--
Retrospection and Resolution--A Note and a Boquet--A Blush
Transfixed, 412