Is Polite Society Polite? and Other Essays

A lively collection of spoken essays, this volume captures the author's early public talks to a range of clubs and societies across the United States. She probes the pretensions of “polite” society, questions whether outward manners can mask selfish hearts, and explores how sincerity should underpin true civility. The pieces also wander through the legacy of ancient Greece, the romance of Dante and Beatrice, and the “halfness” of nature, offering a broad yet intimate sketch of late‑19th‑century cultural thought.

Originally delivered to women’s clubs, philosophical summer schools, and radical gatherings, the essays retain the immediacy of a lecture while inviting listeners into reflective conversation. With humor and moral earnestness, the author examines the gap between public appearance and private feeling, urging a more genuine standard of conduct. Listeners will find a thoughtful, historically grounded meditation on manners, ambition, and the hopeful progress of humanity.