It is in limited communities that the domestic virtues are most intense; all concentrating themselves in their private circles, in such localities there is no public—­no public which extorts so many sacrifices from the individual.  Insular situations are usually remarkable for the warm attachment and devoted fidelity of the domestic, and the personal regard of families for their servants.  This genuine domesticity is strikingly displayed in the island of Ragusa, on the coast of Dalmatia:  for there they provide for the happiness of the humble friends of the house.  Boys, at an early age, are received into families, educated in writing, reading, and arithmetic.  Some only quit their abode, in which they were almost born, when tempted by the stirring spirit of maritime enterprise.  They form a race of men who are much sought after for servants; and the term applied to them of “Men of the Gulf,” is a sure recommendation of character for unlimited trust and unwearying zeal.

The mode of providing for the future comforts of their maidens is a little incident in the history of benevolence, which we must regret is only practised in such limited communities.  Malte-Brun, in his “Annales des Voyages,” has painted a scene of this nature, which may read like some romance of real life.  The girls, after a service of ten years, on one great holiday, an epoch in their lives, receive the ample reward of their good conduct.  On that happy day the mistress and all the friends of the family prepare for the maiden a sort of dowry or marriage-portion.  Every friend of the house sends some article; and the mistress notes down the gifts, that she may return the same on a similar occasion.  The donations consist of silver, of gowns, of handkerchiefs, and other useful articles for a young woman.  These tributes of friendship are placed beside a silver basin, which contains the annual wages of the servant; her relatives from the country come, accompanied by music, carrying baskets covered with ribbons and loaded with fruits, and other rural delicacies.  They are received by the master himself, who invites them to the feast, where the company assemble, and particularly the ladies.  All the presents are reviewed.  The servant introduced kneels to receive the benediction of her mistress, whose grateful task is then to deliver a solemn enumeration of her good qualities, concluding by announcing to the maiden that, having been brought up in the house, if it be her choice to remain, from henceforward she shall be considered as one of the family.  Tears of affection often fall during this beautiful scene of true domesticity, which terminates with a ball for the servants, and another for the superiors.  The relatives of the maiden return homewards with their joyous musicians; and, if the maiden prefers her old domestic abode, she receives an increase of wages, and at a succeeding period of six years another jubilee provides her second good fortune.  Let me tell one more story of the influence