Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
309
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness
·
Florence Hartley
220
"I
do
not
blame
the
parents
who
instil
into
their
children
of
both
sexes
a
desire
to
be
married.
I
think
those
who
teach
the
young
a
different
lesson
deceive
them.
Marriage,
with
all
its
chances,
its
infelicities,
its
sacrifices,
is
seldom
so
infelicitous,
so
uncertain,
so
full
of
sacrifice,
as
the
single
state.
Life
must
have
some
objects,
and
those
objects
must
be
progressive.
The
mind
is
happier
and
healthier
with
such
interests,
even
if
sorrow
comes
along
with
them,
than
in
its
solitude,
its
desolate
freedom
from
care,
when
having,
as
the
phrase
is,
no
troubles
of
the
conjugal
sort
to
disturb
its
tranquillity.
I
therefore
do
not
censure
those
who
desire
to
see
their
daughters
happily
and
suitably
established
in
life.
It
is
the
indiscreet
and
vulgar
haste,
the
indelicacy,
the
low
mercenary
views,
and
the
equally
low
ambition
to
compass
a
splendid
match,
which
is
blameable
and
revolting
in
the
parental
conduct.
"Many
are,
however,
blessed
with
guides
and
guardians
of
very
different
characters;
with
parents,
whose
lofty
natures
not
only
reject
such
unworthy
notions,
but
somewhat
incline
to
the
extreme
of
repelling
all
advances
for
their
daughters.
In
either
case,
the
conduct
of
a
young
lady
may
be
the
same.
It
is
she
who
must
form
her
own
destiny
in
points
on
which
none
can
effectually
aid
her.
It
is
she
who
is
to
be
the
happy
wife,
or
the
wretched
victim;
and
it
is
to
her
that
these
observations
of
admonition
and
of
warning
are
addressed.
Let
us
suppose
her
young,
of
course,
attractive
in
appearance,
of
good
birth,
and
some
fortune.
I
here
except
heiresses,
who,
being
anomalies,
deserve
a
particular
paragraph
for
themselves.
But
let
us
suppose
that
no
obstacle
of
family
or
connection
interferes
to
check
the
approach
of
a
suitor.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
