Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-01-14
HINTS ON DEpoRTMENT AT HOME

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more surely by her manners than by her
dress. Silks, volvets and laces can be bought
with money. The proprietes of life are
learned only by delicate tact and an acquain-
tance with good society.
Home politcness is rarely considered of so
much importance as it really is. We are too
often inclined to treat strangers with more
respect than those of our own household
Children. especially, are supposed to have no
particular claim upon our politeness, and are
often treated with as little consideration as
the dogs which they pet. If we would have
our children civil TO ourselves and others, we
must be civil to them A request is often
better than a command A kind thank
you,' is a return the smallest favor may
claim Children and servants are entitled TO
our politeness, as truly as our guests and
strangers.
If we would be civil abroad we must be
civil in our homes. We must seek for the
perfect in our manners, as in our morals and
no where should we shed such radiance as
when surrounded by those whom we love,
and who look up to us as patterns of what
they should be. Home should be the sane
tuary Of all that is holiest. ofall that is at
tractlye and charming There we should be
the most agreeable and lovely, and there we
should cndeavor to develope our idea of per-
loction
If we always practice what we know. we
shall be ever learning more. If we allow
ourselves to become careless in our manners
and our mode Of life, it will soon be obvious
that wc are tending to barbarism We can
scarcely be too particular in regard to our
manners in private. A true lady is lady
cverywhere--in her own room, as surely as in
the most fashionable parlor
The greatest danger in home life, writes
Timothy Titoomb, "springs from its famil-
iarity Kindred hearts, gathered at a COM
mon tireside, are far too apt to relax from the
common proprieties of social life. Careless
manners and careless attire are too apt to
be INDUCED in. when the eye of the world is
shut off, and the car of the world cannot
hear" We must have a high idea Of what
we may be, that we may continually strive
for advancement. "Thc higher you aim the
higher you will reach, is remark of Fen
olon. that early imprinted itself on my mind,
and it has helped me many times to set my
standard, where, without its influence, | new
er could have planted it.
We should not be satisfied with anything
but the best to which we may attain The
cares. and labors, and weariness of life often
tempt MS to discouragcment but we must be
1 of good courage. We must remember that
we cannot afford to lose any good which we
may have obtained. We must not suffer our
manners to deteriorate, but rather let them
improve. that we may be able TO elevate 9th
ers who have possessed fewer advantages
than ourselves
have no liking for parlor with closed
shutters and doors, reserved for special occa-
sonS, and so seldom used that the family
hardly know whether the, are at home OF
abroad when in it. A parlor should be a
cheerful. family room. made as beautiful and
attractive as q persons taste aud means can
make it. Every parlor should be as individ-
ual as the person who occupies it. | would
not willingly resign house into the hands OF
an upholsterer. / might avail myself Of his
experience, but | should wish my own taste
to preside over it. 1t always gives me plea
sure to enter a house unlike others.
have been interested to observe how much
can judge Of family by the house they live
in. The simplest cottage may be made
tasteful and attractive. 1t does not require
little more than an innate sense of the beau
tiful. Some of the cabins of the West have
left an indelble impression on my mind, as
among the most picturesque dwellings have
ever seen. One in Northern Ohio, with its
/ ovcrhanging roof, and its graceful drapcry
I Of vines, and the dear old grandmother with
her neat dress and plain cap, standing in the
door as passed has never been supplanted
in my memory by any city palace or country
villa. Were | an artist, should transfer
this picture to canvas. | would rather live
in such home, surrounded by fine country,
than in any stiff, ugly house, built and fur
nshed without taste.
/ While a parlor should not be shut up from
sunlight and daily life, would yet have it
a room beyond others in dignity. A certain
attention to dress should be required of those
who enter it. The dress used for labor is
scarcely appropriate to the parlor; but when
/ the duties Of the day are over, think every
family should attend somewhat to their per-
sonal appearance, and pass the evenings to-
| gether, away from the signs of toll which the
other parts of the house often present.
know it requires an effort to do this, but
/ think the influence on ourselves and on our
children will more than compensate for the
trouble.
The parlor is no place for lounging. AL
ways endeavor to sit gracefully. Do not
drop sideways into a chair, with your dress
all on nne side of it. Do not be in the hab-
it Of putting your feet on chairs and Sofas
| have seen a young lady esconse herself in
an arm chair, with her feet upon the upper
rounds of another, when gentlemen and la
dies were present, with as much nonchalence
as she would have done in the privacy of her
own room. She could not have given a more
decisive proof of ill-breeding than by the in
dependent manner in which she thus seated
herself.
! Do not take possession Of the most COM
/ Portable seat in the town, unless you are an
invalid or an aged person. Do not appropri-
ate a scat considered as belonging to another,
aud, especially, do not retain it until that per-
son approaches you, or seats herself else
where and do not drop into it the moment
she has left it. This is exceedingly annoy
ing.
Do not go about humming or singing in
another persons house Step through the
halls quietly. Keep your hands off the bal
listers and walls in going up and down stairs,
unless you are so feeble that you need sup
port. 1t is enough to make nice house
keeper nervous, to hear the sound Of the hand
slipping over the bright varnish.
Let your manners be kind and respectful,