thoughts should be chiefly given to their care and training. 4. Avoid weak fondness, whilst carefully cultivating confidence and love. The Married Woman. 5. Married women should control society. The present practice of abandoning it almost exclusively to young girls is lowering in its tone, and pernicious in its effects. 6. She should combine dignity with affability, and make her home an attractive and agreeable centre for the young. The Single Woman. 7. Let her study to make herself useful and agreeable. Her lot bestows more time upon her; therefore let her improve to the utmost the talents God has given her, in order that she may exert the greatest amount of influence for good. The Young Lady. 8. Let her cultivate quiet and retiring manners. Modesty is the most becoming ornament she can wear. 9. Never omit any mark of respect or deference to age: nothing is more pleasing or graceful in a young person. The Young Man. 10. If you wish to be agreeable, which is certainly a good aim, you must both study how to be so, and take the trouble to put your studies into constant practice. 11. Cultivate conversational powers. Many men possess much and varied information without the power of imparting it easily and agreeably. V. AMUSEMENTS. He is a noble gentleman; withal Happy in his endeavors. The general voice And every fair demeanor, an example: Who is himself an honor to his title. John Ford. AMONG the many popular modes of passing time in the social circle, perhaps none are more interesting than the games which stimulate intellectual energy, and call forth quick and ready repartee. While the plays that children so much enjoy are most valuable as tending to muscular development, we must not forget that children of a larger growth may be mentally and often morally developed by the "blindman's buff" or "hunt the slipper" of the mind. A set of mental gymnasts or intellectual acrobats may thus be trained by the pursuit of what is considered mere amusement. Under this head may be classed the "game of twenty questions," so popular among the English people, which we may describe in some future number; also "charades," "rebuses," or "capping verses," which latter game, as it may not be familiar to all, may be worth a word of description. One of the party gives out a line of poetry, which must be instantly responded to by another line beginning with the initial letter of the final word of the last line; this, in its turn, calls forth another, subject to the same rule, and so on. To sustain this game with spirit, there must be no pause; one line must follow another in quick succession; and the effort to call up what is needed from the poetry stored in the mind is a useful and improving exercise. The following sketch presents a new game, which we should be glad to see introduced among the home enjoyments of American society. CROWNING THE WISEST. Some years ago, it happened that a young gentleman from New York visited London. His father being connected with several of the magnates of the British aristocracy, the young American was introduced into the fashionable circles of the metropolis, where, either in consideration of his very fine personal appearance, or that his father was reported to be very rich, or that he was a new figure on the stage, he attracted much attention, and became quite the favorite of the ladies. This was not at all relished by the British beaux; but, as no very fair pretext offered for a rebuff, they were compelled to treat him civilly. (M. P.), Thus matters stood, when the Hon. Mr. and Lady Mary his wife, made a party to accompany them to their country-seat in Cambridgeshire; and the American was among the invited guests. Numerous were the devices to which these devotees of pleasure resorted, in order to kill that stubborn old fellow who will measure his hours when he ought to know they are not wanted; and the ingenuity of every one was taxed to remember or invent something novel. The Yankees are proverbially ready of invention, and the American did honor to his character as a man accustomed to freedom of thought. He was frank and gay, and entered into the sports and amusements with that unaffected enjoyment which communicated a part of his fresh feelings to the most worn-out fashionist in the party. His good nature would have been sneered at by some of the proud cavaliers, had he not been such a capital shot; and he might have been quizzed, had not the ladies, won by his respectful and pleasant civilities, and his constant attention in drawing-room and saloon, always showed themselves his friends. But a combination was at last formed among a trio of dandies, stanch patrons of the Quarterly, to annihilate the American. They proposed to vary the eternal evening waltzing and music by the acting of charades, and by playing various games; and, having interested one of those indefatigable sinlge ladies who always carry their point in the scheme, it was voted to be the thing. After some few charades had been disposed of, one of the gentlemen begged leave to propose the game called "Crowning the Wisest." This is played by selecting a judge of the game, a committee to prepare the examination, and three persons, either ladies or gentlemen, who are to contest for the crown by answering the various questions, never exceeding nine, which the committee propounded. The candidate who is declared to have been the readiest and happiest in his or her answers receives the crown. Our American, much against his inclination, was chosen among the three candidates. He was aware that his position in the society with which he was mingling required of him the ability to sustain himself. He was, to be sure, treated with distinguished attention by his host and hostess, and generally by the party; but this was a favor to the individual, and not one of the company understood the character of republicans, or appreciated the Republic. The more certainly to discomfit the Yankee, his three enemies had arranged that their turn for questioning him should fall in succession, and be the last. The first one was a perfect exquisite; and, with an air of most ineffable condescension, he put his question. “If I understand rightly the government of your country, you acknowledge no distinctions of rank, consequently, you can have no court standard for the manners of a gentleman: will you favor me with information where your best school of politeness is to be found?" "For your benefit," replied the American, smiling |