XII.  Society in Philadelphia—­Social Welcome for the British—­Early
     Instruction in Dancing—­Formal Dancing Assemblies.

  XIII.  The Beauty of Philadelphia Women—­Abigail Adams’ Description—­The
     Accomplished Mrs. Bingham—­Introduction of Social Fads—­Contrasts
     with New York Belles.

  XIV.  Social Functions—­Lavish Use of Wealth at Philadelphia—­Washington’s
     Birthday—­Martha Washington in Philadelphia—­Domestic Ability of the
     Belles—­Franklin and his Daughter—­General Wayne’s Statement about
     Philadelphia Gaiety.

  XV.  Theatrical Performances—­Their Growth in Popularity—­Washington’s
     Liking for Them—­Mrs. Adams’ Description—­First Performance in
     New York, Charleston, Williamsburg, Baltimore—­Invading the
     Stage—­Throwing Missiles.

  XVI.  Strange Customs in Louisiana—­Passion for Pleasure—­Influence of
     Creoles and Negroes—­Habitat for Sailors and West Indian
     Ruffians—­Reasons for Vice—­Accounts by Berquin-Duvallon—­Commonness
     of Concubinage—­Alliott’s Description—­Reasons for Aversion to
     Marriage—­Corruptness of Fathers and Sons—­Drawing the Color
     Line—­Race Prejudice at Balls—­Fine Qualities of Louisiana White
     Women—­Excess in Dress—­Lack of Education—­Berquin-Duvallon’s
     Disgust—­The Murder of Babes—­General Conclusions.

CHAPTER VI—­COLONIAL WOMAN AND MARRIAGE

  I. New England Weddings—­Lack of Ceremony and Merrymaking—­Freedom of
     Choice for Women—­The Parents’ Permission—­Evidence from
     Sewall—­Penalty for Toying with the Heart—­The Dowry.

  II.  Judge Sewall’s Courtships—­Independence of Colonial Women—­Sewall
     and Madam Winthrop—­His Friends’ Urgings—­His Marriage to Mrs.
     Tilley—­Madam Winthrop’s Hard-Hearted Manner—­Sewall Looks
     Elsewhere for a Wife—­Success Again.

  III.  Liberty to Choose—­Eliza Pinckney’s Letter on the Matter—­Betty
     Sewall’s Rejection of Lovers.

  IV.  The Banns and the Ceremony—­Banns Required in Nearly all
     Colonies—­Prejudice against the Service of Preachers—­Sewall’s
     Descriptions of Weddings—­Sewall’s Efforts to Prevent Preachers
     from Officiating—­Refreshments at Weddings—­Increase in Hilarity.

  V. Matrimonial Restrictions—­Reasons for Them—­Frequency of
     Bigamy—­Monthly Fines—­Marriage with Relatives.

  VI.  Spinsters—­Youthful Marriages—­Bachelors and Spinsters Viewed with
     Suspicion—­Fate of Old Maids—­Description of a Boston Spinster.

  VII.  Separation and Divorce—­Rarity of Them—­Separation in Sewall’s
     Family—­Its Tragedy and Comedy.

  VIII.  Marriage in Pennsylvania—­Approach Toward Laxness—­Ben
     Franklin’s Marriage—­Quaker Marriages—­Strange Mating among
     Moravians—­Dutch Marriages.