EXPLANATION OF TERMS.

Defining terms. The word excellence here used as nearly synonym with
holiness. What is meant by calling the work a Guide. The term Woman--
why preferable, as a general term, to Lady. The class to whom this work
is best adapted.


It has been said, and with no little truth, that a large proportion of
the disputes in the world might have been avoided, had the disputants
first settled the meaning of the terms they respectively used. In like
manner might a large share of the misapprehension and error in the
world be avoided, if those who attempt to teach, would first explain
their terms.

This work is called "The Young Woman's Guide to EXCELLENCE," because it
is believed that excellence, rather than happiness, should be the
leading aim of every human being. I am not ignorant that happiness--
present and future--is proposed as our "being's end and aim," not only
by as distinguished a poet as Alexander Pope, but also by as
distinguished a philosopher as William Paley. But these men did not
learn in the school of Christ, that our "beings end and aim" is
happiness, present or future. The Christian religion, no less than
Christian philosophy and sound common sense, teaches that holiness or
excellence should be the leading aim of mankind. Not that "the
recompense of reward," to which the best men of the world have had
regard in all their conduct, is to be wholly overlooked, but only that
it should not be too prominent in the mind's eye, and too exclusively
the soul's aim; since it would thus be but a more refined and more
elevated selfishness. Real excellence brings happiness along with it.