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correct and exemplary ; instances to the
contrary are of rare occurrence. In a town
of small extent, where every one is known
to his neighbours, and may be said to be
under their surveillance, moral restraints
are more potent than in large cities ; but
there is a correct tone of feeling at Geneva,
which would occasion any one to be coolly
received in society, and even shunned,
whatever were his wealth, who was guilty
of any great breach of moral duty. Moderation
is the characteristic virtue of the
Genevese ; and if Voltaire speaks truly
when he says,
“ La modération est le partage du sage,”
the citizens of Geneva may justly claim
the title of wise, being temperate and
moderate in all their enjoyments. Gaming,
as a vice, is scarcely known, except by the
example of foreigners ; though the Genevese
are great card-players in their evening
parties, it is merely for amusement, and
they play for very low stakes. The sumptuary
laws enforce early hours ; dancing,
whether in public or private, is forbidden
after twelve o’clock, under a penalty of
ten napoleons ; but wedding-balls, and the
ball on the 31st December, to commemorate
the emancipation of Geneva from the
French, are exceptions to this law, and
the dancing may be continued till morning,
without any restriction whatever.
Conjugal fidelity, and durable affection,
between parents and their children, are
nowhere preserved more imdeviatingly
than at Geneva ; and this is the more remarkable,
as marriages here most frequently
take place from interested motives,
and seldom originate from the spontaneous
affection of the parties. The authority of
the parents, however, is rarely, if ever,
carried so far as to compel marriage, where
there is a decided aversion, but it often
operates to prevent a union from affection,
where one of the parties is inferior to the
other in wealth or consideration in society.
The education of females is more intended
for use than show ; they are made rational
companions to their husbands, and valuable
instructors to their children. Perhaps
there is no town in Europe, of equal size,
where the females are generally so well-informed,
particularly in the principles of the