Sam[ue]l L. Mitchill ALS to [Catharine Mitchill], March 3, 1802

29
Washington, March 3rd 1802

Well my little citizen, how do you do? I have read
your last Epistle with increasing satisfaction. There was a propriety
in making the calls you mentioned; and the more so, as our part
of the city is much out of the route of common travelling. Many
of the families in the lower part of the city have scarcely ever
been there in their lives; and they think it a serious journey
to get there. The showing one's self now and then, let's the world
know that we are alive, and keeps up our acquaintance and
importance. It also gratifies social feeling, and wears away that
stiffness and of manner, and solitariness (if I may use the expression)
of behavior which arise from mingling too little in company
or spending too much time alone. I have always thought, as I
believe I have often told you, that a certain portion of our time
ought to be devoted to friendly, instructive or polite intercourse
with our fellow creatures.

You judge properly however, in your
observation, that certain persons of your son, and you might have
added of the other, devote too much of their time and attention
to exhibitions in private parties and public places. They do
indeed mispend many of their days and nights in these di-
-versions. Excessive fondness for such shows is attended with two