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they will have time to prevent what might be an irretrievable error. During this acknowledged courtship, there should be, however, no binding engagement.
The prevailing custom in this country, that excludes the parents from the society of young gentlemen who admire their daughters, is erroneous, and prolific of a social evil. It cannot be expected that two young people thus left will spend much of their time in reflections, or analytical observation of each other's intrinsic character or merit. The subdued, winning ways of a beautiful girl will entrance the susceptible heart of a youth, who, in his turn, hides his own short-comings in the effort to appear what he thinks she must love. These loving creatures are simply dissembling, though, perhaps, with the most honest and amiable motives. Hypocrisy is the art of love, and skill is not wanting when the heart is in a state of effervescence. It is when excitement ceases, after a few months' marriage, that, unconsciously, the mask is allowed to drop, to take a breath. The discovery thus made is pleasing only in inverse proportion to the disguise. Disguise there is always in lovers: the very anxiety to please makes them always put the best foot foremost; the discovery of the cloven-foot is always productive of disappointment and heart-burnings for being deceived while trying to deceive.
As a mask cannot be worn forever, we recommend long engagements, and constant association en famille, so as to prevent those periods of rest which enable the dissembler to put on sweet dispositions for the occasion.
A GIRL FIT TO MARRY.
When a man offers himself in marriage, it is expected that he has a trade, a profession, an occupation of some
