Your Husband's Family

When a girl succeeds in conquering a young man's heart so that he settles upon choosing her as his wife, it is noticed that she aspires also to captivate the hearts of all the members of his family, in order to secure complete happiness and lasting contentment. She therefore attaches great importance to the first meeting with the young man's family, and feels a certain anxiety on this occasion.

My advice to the future wife is to observe the following matters when meeting her husband's family!

First — Take care that your clothes bespeak cleanliness, simplicity, and economy more than they reveal your bewitching charm. And remember always that your husband's family cares little for your beauty; what concerns them is your good management. They will never be at ease if they imagine that you will cost your husband extravagance. This is true in all cases, whether the husband is exceedingly rich or poor, for what concerns them is the principle, and they do not want a spendthrift wife for their son.

Second — It becomes you to be intelligent, without letting cunning show upon you. It also becomes you to reveal your appreciation of humor by laughing at the family's jokes rather than by telling jokes yourself.

And do not be deceived if the father expresses his love of outspokenness in women: never argue with him, but show your complete respect for his opinions and your conviction of them. There is nothing that will convince the father of your wisdom like your utmost attentiveness in listening to him, and your agreement with his judgments and points of view. And bear in mind what Socrates said: that "there is no proof of wisdom like a man's confession of his ignorance."