in the friendly and the familiar style. The simplicity and clearness of Cardinal d'Ossat's letters show how letters of business ought to be written; no affected turns, no attempt at wit, obscure or perplex his matter; which is always plainly and clearly stated, as business always should be. For gay and amusing letters, for enjouement and badinage, there are none that equal Comte Bussy's and Madame Sevigné's. They are so natural, they seem to be the extempore conversations of two people of wit, rather than letters; which are commonly studied, though they ought not to be so. I would advise you to let that book be one in your itinerant library. [July 20, 1747.]
Personal Cleanliness.—As you must attend
to your manners, so you must not neglect your person;
but take care to be very clean, well dressed, and
genteel; to have no disagreeable attitudes, nor awkward
tricks; which many people use themselves to,
and then cannot leave them off. Do you take care
to keep your teeth very clean, by washing them
constantly every morning, and after every meal?
This is very necessary, both to preserve your teeth
a great while, and to save you a great deal of pain.
Mine have plagued me long, and are now falling
out, merely for want of care when I was of your
