Young persons often labor under the erroneous impression that in order to be agreeable they must talk "small talk;" this literally means, "silly twaddle," which disgusts everybody, and yet which all seek to imitate. Whenever the two sexes meet in society or elsewhere, as at all other times, the conversation should be turned upon subjects of real interest, which admit of the exercise of sound sense and will be a means of culture. Such associations do not result in injury to any one, and may be the means of much profit; but nothing is more execrable than the frivolous, silly, often absolutely senseless observations which make up the great bulk of the conversation of young people in fashionable society. The most ready means of disclosing the superficial character of the minds of a large share of the young persons who move in fashionable circles is to introduce some topic requiring depth of thought and sound judgment. Such a subject will usually produce either an instant lull in the conversation or a display of ignorance which cannot fail to reveal the shallowness of the speaker's intellect. It is this superficial class of minds that most easily fall victims to a sickly sentimentalism, which readily leads to digressions from the pathway of rigid virtue. A boy who has the elements of true manliness in him will carry a gentlemanly bearing wherever he goes. In all his deportment, and especially in his conduct toward the opposite sex, he will act the gentleman; and the boy whose gentility is genuine will manifest the same kind deference toward his mother and sisters as toward other ladies and girls. So also the young lady who is a lady at heart, will never allow herself to forget the rules of propriety, whether she is in the company of her father and brothers, or that of other gentlemen. All the rules of etiquette are worth little compared with the one simple rule which is applicable to both sexes and all ages,--"Have the heart right, and then act natural." One so governed will not go very far astray under any circumstances; but it is of the greatest importance that the heart be right. To make it such is, indeed, the great business of life. "BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART." INDEX. PAGE. Abortion, 271 " results of, 280 Accidental pregnancy, 236 Adaptation to marriage, 127 Advice to boys, 468 Advice to girls, 499 Advice to boys and girls, 501 Afterbirth, 68 Amativeness, 177 Amaurosis, 369 Amenorrhoea, 95 Animalcula, 26 Ante-natal influences, 105 Antediluvian wickedness, 286 Bad language, 461 Bad company, 458 Bad books, 462 " " influence of, 463 " " effects of, 486 Balls, demoralizing effect of, 204 Beauty, how to develop, 473 Beer-drinking by nursing mothers, 71 Beer, evil effects of, 467 Betrothal of infants, 138 Birth, changes at, 69 Bladder, irritation of, 203 Boarding-schools, danger of, 495 Books, bad, 186 " obscene, 187 Brain, male and female, 42 Breasts, 70