of Europe, and their regal families, in the matter of personal decorations. Yet, their extravagance is no greater, in proportion to their means, than what we behold in our own land, and among our own acquaintances. A friend informed the author that she saw a lady arrive at Saratoga Springs, with twenty-eight trunks for her baggage. One of the fashionable women in Philadelphia lost her baggage, and the advertisement that contained a description of the articles of apparel and jewellery, showed that her wardrobe and incidentals must have cost from five to ten thousand dollars.

It is time that girls were instructed as to the folly and sin of such fondness for dress and ornaments. How much more becoming to female. character is less regard for ornament, and more for mental improvement and moral worth! Besides, this love of costly apparel proves a snare to the soul, so that a heart thus wedded to display seldom aspires after nobler things. A degree of vanity and selfishness, which are foes to womanly dignity and true excellence, is usually the consequence.

In contrast with such examples of vain show, we love to contemplate the reply of a young lady, in one of the leading circles at Washington, to the compliment of a gentleman on the simplicity and good taste of her dress: "I am glad you like my dress; it cost just seven dollars, and I made every

stitch of it myself." Or the still better example of Frances McLellan, a young lady of rare accomplishments and piety. She moved in wealthy society, and received many valuable presents of jewellery, which she carefully laid away in a drawer. When asked why she did not wear them, she replied, "I can look at them in my bureau as well as on my person, and I do not think they are becoming to me." Such a female has traits of character that will win for her an enviable position in society.

The Scriptures have somewhat to say upon this subject, and their counsels should be heeded. "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." Rev. Albert Barnes has some valuable comments upon this passage, which set forth very clearly what is the duty of women in regard to dress; and we shall bring this chapter to a close with a quotation therefrom :-" It is not to be supposed that all use of gold or pearls as articles of dress is here forbidden; but the idea is, that the Christian female is not to seek these as the adorning which she desires, or is not to imitate the world in these personal decorations. It may be a difficult

question to settle how much ornament is allowable, and when the true line is passed. But though this cannot be settled by any exact rules, since much must depend on age, and on the relative rank in life, and the means which one may possess; yet there is one general rule, which is applicable to all, and which might regulate all. It is, that the true line is passed when more is thought of this external adorning than of the ornament of the heart. Any external decoration which occupies the mind more than the virtues of the heart, and which engrosses the time and attention, we may be certain is wrong. The apparel should be such as not to attract attention; such as becomes our situation; such as will not be particularly singular; such as shall leave the impression that the heart is not fixed on it. It is a poor ambition to decorate a dying body with gold and pearls. It should not be forgotten that the body thus adorned will soon need other habiliments, and will occupy a position where gold and pearls would be a mockery. When the heart is right, when there is true and supreme love for religion, it is usually not difficult to regulate the subject of dress."

Lady, an Abused Term.-The Gay and Foolish Claim it.— Some Apply it to Females Indiscriminately.—Who is a Lady?-Girls think some Needful Labour is not Ladylike.-Genteel to be Ignorant of House-work.—The Woman whose Pastor called to see her.-Some Young Ladies never seen in Kitchen Garb.-Man who Married a Beauty, as Related by Arthur.—Was she more Ladylike for not Knowing how to Cook a Dinner?-Alexander's Sisters.-Cæsar's Wife.-The Wife of Collatinus. -Of Tarquin.-Madame Roland.—Mrs. Washington and the Visit of Lafayette.-The Wife of General Washington. -Visit and Confession of Mrs. Troupe.-Wife of Governor Crittenden.—All these were Ladies, yet performed House-work. Mary Lyon a Model.-Her Words and Practice.-Like Solomon's True Lady.-A Girl's Education Defective without Knowledge of House-work.-King James and the Literary Girl.—Lines of Montgomery.

M

UCH of the feminine folly exposed in the foregoing pages is perpetrated for the sake of being a LADY. Many women have very erroneous ideas of what constitutes a lady. The consequence is, this term is one of the most abused words in the English language. It is applied by many only to those females who are enabled, by rank and affluence, to maintain a certain style of living,

including the gaiety and affectation of the most aristocratic display. Those who can set up some pretensions to honourable birth, and who pride themselves upon their manners and dress, take to themselves this amiable title, while they withhold it from their sex of humbler condition, though superior intelligence and goodness may belong to the latter. There is also a popular use of this term, which applies it to the female sex generally, without regard to the qualities of mind or heart; a use of the word which is well nigh as exceptionable as that just noticed.

Despite such uses of this graceful appellation, we consider that a female may be a true lady irrespective of rank or fortune; and that only those are worthy of the name who possess refinement and taste, propriety, and grace of expression and manners, and proper regard for the rights and feelings of others, together with those noble virtues. of the heart which qualify them for diffusing a kind and genial influence through the social life, elevating thereby the lowly, and blessing the unfortunate and distressed.

It is not necessary, therefore, to go to Vanity Fair in order to be a lady. Nor is it necessary to be rich and fashionable, nor to be able to make display of jewellery and apparel, to be one. Without any such ability, a girl may become a lady in the humblest walks of life.