calmly, "I would recommend the Falls of Niagara, — a contemplation of that stupendous wonder teaches humility to the proudest, and human nothingness to the vainest. It rebukes the trifler, and arouses the most stupid: in short, it turns men from their idols; and, when we acknowledge that God only is the Lord, we feel that men are our equals. A true Christian is always polite."

There was a murmur among the audience; but whether of applause or censure, the American could not determine, as he did not choose to betray any anxiety for the result by a scrutiny of the faces which he knew were bent on him.

The second now proposed his question. He affected to be a great politician, was mustached and whiskered like a diplomatist, which station he had been coveting. His voice was bland; but his emphasis was very signifi

cant.

"Should I visit the United States, what subject with which I am conversant would most interest your people, and give me an opportunity of enjoying their conversation?"

"You must maintain, as you do at present, that a monarchy is the wisest, the purest, and best government which the skill of man ever devised, and that a democracy is utterly barbarous. My countrymen are fond of argument they will meet you on those two points, and, if you choose, argue with you to the end of your life," replied the American.

The murmur was renewed, but still without any decided expression of the feeling with which his answer had been received. The third then rose from his seat, and with an assured voice, which seemed to announce a certain triumph, said,

"I require your decision on a delicate question; but the rules of the pastime warrant it, and also a candid answer. You have seen the American and the English ladies: which are the fairest?"

The young republican glanced around the circle. It was bright with beaming eyes; and the sweet smiles. which wreathed many a lovely lip might have won a less determined patriot from his allegiance. He did not hesitate, though he bowed low to the ladies as he answered,

"The standard of feminine beauty is, I believe, allowed to be the power of exciting admiration and love in our sex; consequently, those ladies who are the most admired and beloved and respected by the gentlemen must be the fairest. Now I assert confidently, that there is not a nation on earth where woman is so truly beloved, so tenderly cherished, so respectfully treated, as in the Republic of the United States; therefore, the American ladies are the fairest. But," and he again bowed low, "if the ladies before whom I have now the honor of expressing my opinion were in my own country, we should think them Americans."

The applause was unanimous, and, for an aristocratic

English drawing-room, quite enthusiastic.

After the

mirth had so far subsided as to allow the voice of the

judge to be heard, he awarded the crown to the young American.

A

VI. A PLEA FOR DANCING.

PLEA for Dancing!" exclaims Mrs. Lovegood, as

she opens "The Home Weekly." "Why, Charles, I thought, after reading the article on 'Indecent Dances' in 'The London Review,' that the idea of discussing the subject would be given up."

"There must be something to say in its favor, Mary, or Mrs. Hale would not make a Plea for Dancing,"" replied Mr. Lovegood: "we will read this before judging it. There may be more good reasons for this recreation in our homes than we have considered."

"But, if we allow dancing in our homes, we countenance all its bad consequences in society," said Mrs. Lovegood.

"I am not certain on that point," replied her husband. "Some important ideas on this subject have occurred to me since reading that article in The London Review.' It is plain that such dances as are there alluded to cannot be allowed in our land."

"How can they be prevented here, if not there?"

inquired his wife; "and why should we find their conse

quences worse?"

"Because our Republic is founded on God's truth and the moral virtues of humanity, not on military power and royal prerogative. Woman is the natural guardian of the moral virtues: if she become shameless in her amusements, the inner world of home will soon be corrupted. No republic can be sustained where the moral virtues are dishonored in the social life of a free people."

"The prevention,-how can that be accomplished?"

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By encouraging dances that are innocent, and banishing from our homes and from social life all that are indecent, just as we do with indecent songs in music, or licentious conversation in talking."

Suppose, Charles, before going further, that you were to read me this article; and then we can discuss it together."

"With pleasure," said he; and, taking up the book, he read aloud:

A PLEA FOR DANCING.

It appears to me, that it is too much the tendency of many earnest, right-minded, and in the main right-thinking persons, to confound the use with the abuse of various things which are in themselves good and right; and because, owing perhaps to circumstances, perhaps to the natural depravity of man, the abuse has in many cases so

overlaid the use as to conceal it almost wholly from view, therefore such persons, seeking and wishing to promote the right, too frequently content themselves with condemning all such things in toto, without looking deeper into the question to see whether they are wrong per se, or have merely been made so by their abuse.

Foremost among such things, I would place dancing, — a simple, healthy, and useful exercise; a pleasant, social, and innocent amusement; a refined, elegant, and graceful accomplishment; and yet, because dancing has been abused, we find too many of our most conscientious and religious mothers forbidding its use entirely, and thus not only depriving their children of much rational enjoyment, but too often leading them into deceit and future excess in pursuit of a forbidden pleasure.

That it is not my aim to indorse balls, to advocate a career of worldly dissipation, or to defend the demoralizing dances of the present day, I need not say; for that were to defend the abuse, not to separate it from its lawful use!

No: I merely desire to show, that, viewed from the highest stand-point, the simple act of dancing, as a natural and healthy amusement, is not necessarily, and need never be, in any way connected with sin.

No one who is at all familiar with Addison's writings can fail to remember that he considered dancing as, 'not only imparting happiness, but increasing virtue.' He always strongly maintained that graceful movements of

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