"His reception will in the future be cold, and no one will move on his entrance; but if his Cravat is _savamment_ and elegantly formed--although his coat may not be of the last _cut_--every one will rise to receive him with the most distinguished marks of respect, will cheerfully resign their seats to him, and the delighted eyes of all will be fixed on that part of his person which separates the shoulders from the chin--let him speak down-right nonsense he will be applauded to the skies; it will be said--'This man has critically and deeply studied the thirty-two lessons on the Art of Tying the Cravat.' But again reverse the picture--it will be found that the unfortunate individual who is not aware of the existence of this justly celebrated work--however well informed he may be on other subjects--will be considered as an ignorant pretender, and will be compelled to suffer the impertinence of the fop, who will treat him with disdain, merely because his Cravat is not correctly disposed--he will moreover be obliged to hear in silence, and to approve (under pain of being considered unacquainted with the common rules of politeness) all the remarks which he will thus subject himself to--occasionally relieved by hearing a whisper of, 'He cannot even put on a Cravat properly.'" The reader will not expect, possibly will experience little desire, to be taken through the whole of the two-and-thirty lessons in the art of tying the cravat; a single illustration will probably suffice. It shall be, however, "the sovereign of cravat ties, the 'Nœud Gordien,' the origin of which is lost in the obscurity of antiquity." The discovery of the name of the brilliant genius to whom the honour of this invention is due has, apparently, defied the most laborious researches on the part of the author. He can only tell us (what he believes is generally known) that Alexander the Great, although he could conquer a whole world, and, like a youthful character in the works of the immortal Dickens, _sigh for more_ (soup, however, in the case of the juvenile), was still unable to comprehend the theory of its construction, and adopted the shorter and easier method of cutting it with his sword. "Attention!" Cravats when sent from the laundress should undergo a careful examination as to the washing, ironing, and folding, as the set of the cravat and neatness of the tie _entirely depends upon this_. Whether it be plain or coloured is apparently of little moment, and does not in the least affect its formation, but a stout one is recommended as offering more facilities to the daring fingers of the tyro who would accomplish this _chef-d'œuvre_. It now becomes necessary to meditate deeply and seriously upon the five following directions:-- 1. Having carefully chosen the cravat, it must be placed on the neck, the ends left hanging (first time). 2. Take point K, pass it on the inside of point Z, and raise it (second time).