There is a beautiful black-eyed girl,--the one with that fat, red- faced gentleman. She is about sixteen, and he about thirty. I know him. He is a regular roue, although he has the entree of many of our best homes. His companion seems a modest, sweet girl. The opera is "Faust," one of the most unclean of the whole unclean batch. They are both using one and the same libretto, with an English translation. This gives him an opportunity to put his arm behind her, but of course he is careful not to touch her shoulder. But we shall see, when we come to certain parts of the opera. Now look at them. See the red spots on her cheeks; they tell us of struggling modesty and innocence. The story proceeds; the lascivious gestures, the lecherous gaze of the men and half-naked women on the stage, are beginning to tell upon the whole audience. See our girl. That arm is pressing her against his side, and her eyes are busy with the words, as if she were completely absorbed. When she returns to her home to-night, her mind will be filled with thoughts, of which she will not speak to her mother. God alone knows the number of pure souls that have been ruined by the insidious poison of the opera. THE STUDY OF FRENCH. All American girls of the rich class, and a very large number of the poor class, study French. The reasons given for this immense investment in time and money, are:-- 1st. That French words and sentences are common in our literature. 2nd. That educated people must speak French; for it is the language of polite society everywhere. 3rd. Without a knowledge of French, you must forego the science and literature locked up in that language. 4th. The study of the French language involves a peculiar mental discipline of great value. I am quite ready to admit that a knowledge of French is not only convenient, but indispensable to a liberal education. But, nevertheless, nineteen in every twenty girls, who study French, simply waste their time and money. It is not even intended, when they enter upon it, that they shall do anything beyond a little grammar, and one or two readers. It is not expected that they will speak the language, beyond the class conversations. So whatever may be justly said of the value of French, in view of the considerations I have named, its value, as managed in our schools, cannot be seriously discussed. As to the words and sentences which occur so frequently in our books and papers, it would be easy for any one to learn the meaning of all such as have been domesticated, in a few hours.