. American etiquette and rules of politeness. COSTLY PRESENTS. Rich and costly presents should rarely if ever bemade. A present ought to be valuable from what itsignifies, rather than on account of what it really wealthy father may, of course, make a costly giftto a son or daughter ; but in most cases where there isnot some close relationship, the propriety of such agift would be extremely questionable. MOST SUITABLE PRESENTS. Says Emerson: Our tokens of love are for themost part barbarous, cold, and lifeless, because they (275). (276) PRESENTS. 277 do not represent our life. The only gif
. American etiquette and rules of politeness. COSTLY PRESENTS. Rich and costly presents should rarely if ever bemade. A present ought to be valuable from what itsignifies, rather than on account of what it really wealthy father may, of course, make a costly giftto a son or daughter ; but in most cases where there isnot some close relationship, the propriety of such agift would be extremely questionable. MOST SUITABLE PRESENTS. Says Emerson: Our tokens of love are for themost part barbarous, cold, and lifeless, because they (275). (276) PRESENTS. 277 do not represent our life. The only gift is a portionof thyself. Therefore, let the farmer give his corn;the miner, his gem ; the sailor, his corals and shells;the painter, his picture, and the poet, his poem. In other words, it is always best to give somethingof your own production or discovery. If the recipienthave any love for you, the value of the gift will beenhanced many fold by being the offspring of youreffort and skill. But if he have no true affection forthe giver, nothing can be valuable as a gift. A person sometimes comes into possession of a thingwhich is of no special value to himself, but which toanother, on account of his calling, studies, or tastes,may be very desirable. Under such circumstance it isalways proper to make a present of the thing in ques-tion, even to a stranger. GIFTS TO LADIES. As a rule a young unmarried lady should not receivea present, above all a costly present, from a gentleman ;unless he be a relative, or is engaged to her. A
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade18, booksubjectetiquette, bookyear1883
