Page:Advice to young ladies on their duties and conduct in life - Arthur - 1849.djvu/155

Rh, will not be in much danger of making the acquaintance of young men of bad moral principles.

But this test is not always practicable, and, from many causes not necessary to be explained here, not always to be relied upon. Nor will the dislikes and prejudices of a young lady, as they will be called, always be considered by her friends sufficient reasons for her declining the visits of certain young men who to them seem very unexceptionable.

If she have brothers, their unfavorable opinion of a young man, even if no allegations are made against him, should generally be considered by a young lady a sufficient reason for keeping him at a distance. Her brothers have opportunities of knowing more about young men than she possibly has; for amongst young men, the habits and principles of each other are pretty well known. If she be in doubt, let her ask her mother’s opinion; and sufficient evidence to warrant a young man’s encouragement or repulsion as a visitor, will, in most cases, be soon furnished.

When the character of a young man is known to be bad,—if he have betrayed innocence, or been guilty of any dishonorable act,—let him not, on any consideration, be admitted to