THE

YOUNG MAN'S

OWN BOOK :

A MANUAL OF POLITENESS, INTELLECTUAL IM
PROVEMENT, AND MORAL DEPORTMENT,

CALCULATED

TO FORM THE CHARACTER ON A SOLID BASIS,

AND TO INSURE RESPECTABILITY

AND SUCCESS IN LIFE.

Sui cuique mores fingunt fortunam.-Corn. Nepos.
It is a man's manners that make his fortune.

Philadelphia:

KEY & BIDDLE-23 MINOR STREET.

1833.

Entered according to the act of congress, in the year 1832, by Key, Mielke & Biddle, in the clerk's office of the district court of the eastern district of Pennsylvania.

STEREOTYPED BY J. HOWE

PREFACE.

In the outset of life, every young man needs a friendly adviser, who shall give him some leading hints concerning the line of conduct which he should adopt, in order to insure success and respectability. Sometimes one is fortunate enough to find such a monitor in a father, guardian, or elder brother; and seldom does a youth enter upon this momentous and responsible career without some real or pretended friend, who volunteers his advice. But few are so fortunate as to have a living adviser who is at hand on all occasions; or who is qualified to give counsel on all the subjects in which a young man may require it.

In coming forward to offer his services as a guide and mentor, the author of the "Young Man's Own Book" presents himself with a degree of confidence which he would not feel, if he had relied entirely on his own observation and experience. This he has by no means presumed to do. On the contrary, in pointing out the means of mental improvement, in laying down maxims of worldly prudence and moral wisdom, in offering counsel concerning man

ners and behavior, amusements, occupations, the conduct of domestic life, and the pursuit of business, he has had recourse to the writings and opinions of those whose authority is undisputed; and has only introduced his own remarks where the particular situation of affairs, or the peculiar tone of manners in this country, seemed to require them.

By this course, he trusts that he has produced a manual which every young man may safely take as a guide in all those particulars in which it professes to offer advice-a volume to which he may repair with confidence, and on whose authority he may rely with safety-which may properly be his companion at home and abroad, in the daily conduct of life, and on those important emergencies when good advice is of more value than fine gold.