Every thing that contributes to bind us in one vast empire together, to quicken the sympathy that makes us feel, from the icy North to the sunny South, that we are one family, each a member of a great and free nation, not merely the unit of a remote locality, is worthy of being cherished. We have sought to re-awaken and increase this sympathy, believing that the fine filaments. of the affections are stronger than laws to keep the union of our States sacred in the hearts of our people.

We believe that our Thanksgiving Day, if thus fixed and perpetuated, will be a great and sanctifying promoter of this national spirit. Our whole people will then look forward to it, make preparations to honor and enjoy it. Literature will take her part, and send her tribute of gratitude.

We are glad to see that this has already been done in a measure, and that the press has taken up the idea. One of our leading journals has an excellent article entitled "Thanksgiving Literature." The writer, after mentioning "certain well-meaning, but rather heavy hymns," which he says is all we have on the subject, goes on to wonder that American writers should have failed to see what a vast theme might be here opened to them, family affection, the bringing together of the scattered, the tender recollection and renewal of old ties, in short, a countless throng of pleasant topics on which to weave romance or song. All this is a step in the right direction.

"Let Thanksgiving, our American holiday, give us American books, — song, story, and sermon,

written expressly to awaken in American hearts the love of home and of country, of thankfulness to God, and peace between brethren."

I have thus endeavored to lay before my readers one of the strongest wishes of my heart, convinced that the general estimate of feminine character throughout the United States will be far from finding it an objection that this idea of American Union Thanksgiving was suggested by a woman. The enjoyments are social, the feastings are domestic; therefore this annual festival is really the exponent of family happiness and household piety, which women should always seek to cultivate in their hearts and in their homes. God gave to man authority, to woman influence she inspires and persuades; he convinces and compels.

It has always been my aim to use my influence in this womanly way. And now I feel, that, under the blessing of God, I am indebted to the efficient aid of good and patriotic men, who have accomplished this idea of establishing the last Thursday in November as the set time for the people of the United States, wherever they may chance to be, to celebrate and hallow as the AMERICAN NATIONAL THANKSGIVING DAY.

A

V. EVENING RECEPTIONS.

MONG the fine arts that embellish life, none gives

more pleasure, or is of more advantage in every age and in every situation, than the art of conversation. Some people have from Nature the gift of eloquence, as we see persons have a natural turn for painting or for music; but as the genius of Mozart could not have shone, had he been confined to a Jew's-harp, so wit and facility of speech are stifled by ignorance. Even learning and cultivation lose their charms when their possessor has not the proper words and the best turn of phrases to express his knowledge and define his meaning.

Conversation, like all arts, needs culture, which should begin in the home-circle; but the place where it gains its perfection and power, and also where it gives and receives its greatest pleasure, is in good society. Now, here it is that woman begins to exercise that precious influence which extends from her family to the city she inhabits, to the country where she dwells, to the very era in which she lives.

To the Hôtel de Rambouillet, to the Marchioness de Rambouillet and her daughter Julia, France has been indebted for that esprit de société, and that series of remarkable conversationalists who have rendered the salons of Paris the centre of intellectual causeries, or easy talk

4

ing (only the French word expresses the true meaning), ever since their day.

At the Hôtel de Rambouillet, the great Corneille read his early plays; here, too, the wonderful orator, Bossuet, in their re-unions, took his first steps to fame. In England, there have been women who have illustrated their own times by drawing together men of genius and women of appreciative powers.

Mrs. Montague and Mrs. Vesey conferred more benefit on English society than did the court of St. James. Mrs. Thrale's charming parties, so vividly described by Madame d'Arblay, show what could be done, even in that exclusively aristocratic age, by a woman of talent and good nature, to cultivate literature and help intellectual advancement.

Mrs. Delany, in her pleasant correspondences, shows how acceptable a woman can make herself to minds of the highest order in society when she aims at pleasing by what is elevated and truly interesting.

The Correspondence of the Miss Berrys, a very charming work, lately published, gives a picture of sensible women, whose extensive sphere of usefulness should be a pattern to others of their sex, who fritter away life, often a burden to themselves and very little pleasure or comfort to others.

Our American society, to become something worthy of the name, should not be left entirely to dancing boys and girls; neither should it be confined to those who think "to live is to eat."

Some years ago, there lived in one of our cities a widowed lady with an only daughter. They were not rich in acres or stocks; but they had "spirit, taste, and sense." They tried the experiment of collecting ladies and gentlemen in their parlors who had the culture and powers to make themselves agreeable, people who were amusable as well as sensible. The artist was there with his sketch, the musician with his song or his inspired fingers, and ladies who could listen as well as talk.

The savans learned the way to that pleasant house, where there was every Thursday evening a social circle composed of people worth seeing, and where ceremonious and extensive toilets were neither required nor observed.

The clever author, the popular poet, the celebrated man of letters, such were the people who had, one by one, been welcomed to these pleasant receptions, or soirées, where there was neither finery nor feasting, but where good sense, genius, accomplishments, and genuine hospitality, which gave the best it had, shook hands, and enjoyed the pleasures of refined, witty, and intelligent conversation.

It need not be added, that, as the evenings went on from year to year, those who frequented them were made better and happier, and more useful. Many a bright idea, struck out by discussion in those unpretending rooms, has cheered a listening public by its wit, or moved a crowd of spectators by its truth, or opened the hearts of the people by its tender pathos.