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perhaps, this was owing, in conjunction with her attractive talents, to her knowledge of the world, rather than to any philosophical views of human nature. What is knowledge of the world but knowledge of the human mind in some of its most striking aspects, brought out by actual circumstances? True politeness itself has also been defined as "the knowledge of the human mind directing general benevolence." It is thus the art of giving pleasure, by raising such ideas and feelings in the minds of others as will afford the most pleasure, and averting as much as possible every idea which may lead to pain. It implies, therefore, a fine knowledge of the natural series of thoughts; and this foresight, acquired by attentive observation of the various characters of mankind, in a long intercourse with society, is the true knowledge
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politeness. Besides, this may be necessary also for the individual's own sake. "There is," observes L. E. L. "in mental exertion an absolute necessity for reaction.***To this may be ascribed the difference that often exists between the writings and the conversations of genius. In the first is embodied the moral truth of their being worked out by strong belief and deep feeling; the other contains all that is sceptical and careless,—it is the glitter of the waters when not at rest. The thousand paradoxes that spring up are thrown off for amusement and for relief, and recklessly flung aside by the utterer, who never means them to be taken as the creed of his real sentiments, or of his more earnest thoughts." As akin to these reflections occurs to us a conversational remark of L. E. L. One evening she observed to us, in connexion with this very subject: "It ever seems so strange to me that people should mistake the semblance of excessive cheerfulness, when it is assumed only as a mask to conceal the real features of the wearer. When mirth takes a sarcastic form, it always gives me an idea of the speaker's own internal wretchedness; for when does the foam mantle highest on the wave and sparkle brightest in the sunshine?—is it not when that wave is passing over the jagged rock, and the rugged stone lurking beneath?"
