the habit of sending books to people to read, because the lender thinks that the other will be entertained. It compels persons to read what they may not have leisure or inclination to do, and to prepare an opinion which they may find it difficult or unpleasant to express, and it throws upon them the duty of taking care of the work. When books are spoken of, therefore, it is more refined not to make an offer of lending them. At all events, you should never press their acceptance, or send them, unless your offer is accepted readily and willingly.

If a person in conversation has begun to say something, and has checked himself, you should avoid the tactless error, so often committed, of insisting on hearing him; as doubtless there was some reason for this change of intention.

If you are giving a person sugar upon a plate of fruit, as strawberries, pine-apples, or such matters, you should

not scatter it over the article to which it is to be added, but should place it by the side of the plate by itself, which will enable the person to use as much as may be desirable.

In company, you should never tilt your chair back upon its hind feet; especially not at the table.

When you call to see a person, and are informed at the door that he is engaged, you should never persist in your attempt to be admitted, but should acquiesce at once in that arrangement which the other has made for his convenience, to protect himself from interruption.

There are many times and seasons at which a person chooses to be entirely alone, and when there is no friendship for which he would give up his occupation or his solitude. It is now usual for those, who do not wish to see company, to send word that "they are engaged"; formerly, that message would have given offence, but it is now

so customary that every one understands it. A traditionary anecdote of Scipio Nasica seems to bring the saying of "not at home" to a non plus. He one day called on Ennius, the poet, who, though at home, was denied by his servants. Soon after, Ennius returned the visit, and Scipio himself coming to the door told him that he was not at home." "Nay!" said Ennius gravely," I know that you are, I hear your voice." "You are a fine fellow indeed," replied Scipio; "when I called on you, the other day, I believed the maid, who told me you were not at home, and now you will not believe me, although you hear my own voice affirming it."

Were we to take as much pains to be what we ought, as we do to disguise what we are, we might appear like ourselves, without being at the trouble of any disguise at all.

CONVERSATION.

THIS is known and admitted to be one of the most important of all attainments; and perhaps nothing is more desired by all intelligent young persons, who reflect at all upon their means of influence and improvement than conversational power. But, notwithstanding this general impression in its favor, there is nothing of half its importance which is so entirely neglected in education. And there is, it must be acknowledged, a great difficulty in the subject.

To acquire the art of conversation we would recommend that you should practise conversation systematically and constantly, but that you should have some other object than improvement in your manner of expressing yourself mainly in view. You will become in

terested in these objects, and consequently interested in the conversation which you make use of as a means of promoting them; and by not having your own manner directly in view, the danger of that stiffness, and precision and affectation, which is so common a result of efforts to improve in such an art as this, will be escaped. We will mention one or two of these objects.

Make conversation a means of acquiring knowledge. Every person, with whom you are thrown into casual connection, has undoubtedly some knowledge which would be useful or valuable to you. You are riding in the stage, I will suppose, and the rough-looking man who sits by your side appears so unattractive, that you do not suppose he has anything to say which can interest you. But speak to him-draw him into conversation, and you will find that he is a sea-captain, who has visited a hundred ports, and can tell you many interesting stories