The ears must be carefully washed with a sponge or soft cloth. Nothing hard or rough should be used in cleaning them, and the wax which collects in them should never be removed except by washing, as the delicacy of the ears is such that it is possible to produee deafness by carelessness in the treatment of them. The teeth must be cleaned morning and night with a toothbrush, clear water, and either toothpowder or scap. ON HABITS AND MANNERS. 15 No toothpowder should be used except that which can be procured from respectable druggists and dentists, for it is very easy to destroy the enamel of the teeth, and the quack powders used by many ignorant people are usually made of detergents so powerful as to increase rather than prevent the decay of the teeth. If it is possible to clean the teeth and rinse the mouth after each meal, it should be done ; but^ in any case, a thorough cleaning should be given night and morning, for by this means only can you keep your teeth sound and white, and your breath free from offense. If this habit is established in early childhood, a fine set of teeth i& almost invariably the result, while toothaches are avoided and dentists set at naught, ua consummation most devoutly to be wished for." The hands and feet need special care, for the nails of the former must be always carefully cut and cleaned with a knife or nail-scissors every day, while they must be washed several times a day, in particular, both before and after eat- ing. The toes must be washed and dried carefully every morning, while, whenever it is necessary, the nails must be cut, and all corns or growths of that nature, must be pared with a knife or otherwise removed, in order to prevent the feet from becoming a source of great pain and annoyance. The habits of cleanliness which will result from obe- dience to the above simple rules, will do much toward keep- l6 ON HABITS AND MANNERS. ing your bodies in a healthy condition, for a clean skin is one of the essentials of health, so that you have a double motive to induce you to learn to be clean, in the fact that you can never have either health or refinement except upon the broad foundation of cleanliness. CHAPTER III. PERSONAL HAETTS. In associating with our fellow-men and women, in general society, which we are all, to a greater or less extent, obliged to do, and in which many of us find our greatest pleasures, I want you to notice how closely the Christian law and the law of Society are united in respect to the principles of re- finement. To be a Christian one must love one's neighbor as one's self, — to be a gentleman or lady one must at least seem to do so, and must bear one's self in all things as if the comfort and well being of one's neighbor were the first and highest consideration. True politeness involves frequent, indeed continual self-sacrifice, and it is this undoubtedly which makes it so hard for us to practice it in our homes, or at seasons when we fancy the eye of the world is no longer upon us and we can be rude and selfish without fear of be- ing held up to ridicule and contempt. ON HABITS AND MANNERS. 17

AI-modernized reading of the original text

The ears must be carefully washed with a sponge or soft cloth. Nothing hard or rough should be used in cleaning them, and the wax which collects in them should never be removed except by washing, as the delicacy of the ears is such that it is possible to produce deafness by carelessness in the treatment of them. The teeth must be cleaned morning and night with a toothbrush, clear water, and either toothpowder or soap. No toothpowder should be used except that which can be procured from respectable druggists and dentists, for it is very easy to destroy the enamel of the teeth, and the quack powders used by many ignorant people are usually made of detergents so powerful as to increase rather than prevent the decay of the teeth. If it is possible to clean the teeth and rinse the mouth after each meal, it should be done ; but in any case, a thorough cleaning should be given night and morning, for by this means only can you keep your teeth sound and white, and your breath free from offense. If this habit is established in early childhood, a fine set of teeth is almost invariably the result, while toothaches are avoided and dentists set at naught, a consummation most devoutly to be wished for." The hands and feet need special care, for the nails of the former must be always carefully cut and cleaned with a knife or nail-scissors every day, while they must be washed several times a day, in particular, both before and after eating. The toes must be washed and dried carefully every morning, while, whenever it is necessary, the nails must be cut, and all corns or growths of that nature, must be pared with a knife or otherwise removed, in order to prevent the feet from becoming a source of great pain and annoyance. The habits of cleanliness which will result from obedience to the above simple rules, will do much toward keep- ing your bodies in a healthy condition, for a clean skin is one of the essentials of health, so that you have a double motive to induce you to learn to be clean, in the fact that you can never have either health or refinement except upon the broad foundation of cleanliness. CHAPTER III. PERSONAL HAETTS. In associating with our fellow-men and women, in general society, which we are all, to a greater or less extent, obliged to do, and in which many of us find our greatest pleasures, I want you to notice how closely the Christian law and the law of Society are united in respect to the principles of refinement. To be a Christian one must love one's neighbor as one's self, — to be a gentleman or lady one must at least seem to do so, and must bear one's self in all things as if the comfort and well being of one's neighbor were the first and highest consideration. True politeness involves frequent, indeed continual self-sacrifice, and it is this undoubtedly which makes it so hard for us to practice it in our homes, or at seasons when we fancy the eye of the world is no longer upon us and we can be rude and selfish without fear of being held up to ridicule and contempt.

On habits and manners