I. Southern Isolation and Hospitality—­Progress through Wealth—­Care-free
     Life of the South—­Social Effect of Tobacco Raising—­Historians’
     Opinions of the Social Life—­Early Growth of Virginia
     Hospitality—­John Hammond’s Description in 1656—­Effect of Cavalier
     Blood—­Beverly’s Description of Virginia Social Life—­Foreign
     Opinions of Virginia Luxury and Culture.

  II.  Splendor in the Home—­Pitman’s Description of a Southern
     Mansion—­Elegant Furnishings of the Time.

  III.  Social Activities—­Evidence in Invitations—­Eliza Pinckney’s Opinion
     of Carolinians—­Open-House—­Washington’s Hospitable
     Record—­Art and Music in the South—­A Reception to a Bride—­Old-Time
     Refreshments—­Informal Visiting—­A Letter by Mrs. Washington—­Social
     Effects of Slow Travel.

  IV.  New England Social Life—­Social Influence of Public
     Opinion—­Cautious Attitude Toward Pleasure—­Social Origin of Yankee
     Inquisitiveness—­Sewall’s Records of Social Affairs—­Pynchon’s Records
     of a Century Later.

  V. Funerals as Recreations—­Grim Pleasure in Attending—­Funeral
     Cards—­Gifts of Gloves, Rings, and Scarfs—­Absence of
     Depression—­Records of Sewall’s Attendance—­Wane of Gift-Giving—­A
     New Amsterdam Funeral.

  VI.  Trials and Executions—­Puritan Itching for Morbid and
     Sensational—­Frankness of Descriptions—­Treatment of Condemned
     Criminals—­The Public at Executions—­Sewall’s Description of an
     Execution—­Coming of More Normal Entertainments—­The Dancing
     Master Arrives.

  VII.  Special Social Days—­Lecture Day—­Prayers for the Afflicted—­Fast
     Days—­Scant Attention to Thanksgiving and Christmas—­How Bradford
     Stopped Christmas Observation—­Sewall’s Records of Christmas—­A
     Century Later.

  VIII.  Social Restrictions—­Josselyn’s Account of New England
     Restraints—­Growing Laxity—­Sarah Knight’s Description—­Severity
     in 1780—­Laws Against Lodging Relatives of the Opposite Sex—­What
     Could not be Done in 1650—­Husking Parties and Other Community
     Efforts.

  IX.  Dutch Social Life—­Its Pleasant Familiarity—­Mrs. Grant’s
     Description of Early New York—­Normal Pleasures—­Love of Flowers
     and Children—­Love of Eating—­Mrs. Grant’s Record—­Disregard for
     Religion—­Mating the Children—­Picnicking—­Peculiar Customs at
     Dutch Funerals.

  X. British Social Influences—­Increase of Wealth—­The Schuyler
     Home—­Mingling of Gaiety and Economy—­A Description in 1757—­Foreign
     Astonishment at New York Display—­Richness of Woman’s
     Adornment—­Card-Playing and Dancing—­Gambling in Society.

  XI.  Causes of Display and Frivolity—­Washington’s Punctiliousness—­Mrs.
     Washington’s Dislike of Stateliness—­Disgust of the
     Democratic—­Senator Maclay’s Description of a Dinner by
     Washington—­Permanent Benefit of Washington’s Formality—­Elizabeth
     Southgate’s Record of New York Pastimes.