XIX.--WOMAN.

Tendency of her education--Happy and contented--Marked difference
in education of the two sexes--Beauty aided by early care--Former
practices and consequences--Ravages of time--Women now lovely in
age as in youth--Beauty regarded as a precious gift from
Heaven--Cosmetics for its "preservation"--Wrinkles--Skin and
complexion--Hands and feet--CHOOSING BY HAND--How
effected--CHOOSING BY FOOT--Expedients used when hand or foot
inclined to coarseness--GIRL'S DORMITORIES--Cleanliness--Separate
sleeping-rooms--Reasons--Communication with
night-watchers--Precautions--Mode adopted to ensure early rising--
Prayer not till after repast--Reason why old custom
changed--Careful discipline until marriage--Luxurious habits
permitted to married ladies--Instance of the elastic "frame"
cushion--The self-acting fan


XX.--CHOICE OF A HUSBAND.

Means taken to secure congenial husband--Marriage councils--Choice
of husband, how arranged--Maiden's right to nominate--The
thirty-one evenings--The girl, how distinguished--Gentlemen who
wish their pretensions to be favourably viewed--The
unwilling--Efforts of pretenders--Agitation on the thirty-first
evening--How the maiden proclaims her choice--The presentation of
flowers--Subsequent meeting of the parties--Betrothal--Consequence
of maiden failing to declare preference--Second meeting--Third
meeting rare