Meteors: 1808

"In all the instances in which these stones have been supposed to fall from the clouds, and of which any perfect account has been given, the appearance of a luminous meteor, exploding with loud noise, has immediately preceded, and hence has been looked to as the cause. The stones likewise have been more or less hot, when found immediately after their supposed fall. Different opinions however have been entertained on this subject, which is certainly involved in much difficulty. Some philosophers imagine them to be formed in the atmosphere by a sudden condensation of the elements of their component parts: others, that they already existed on the spot where they were found, and were merely struck by the electric discharge : and prof. Proust has invested, that they might be torn from the polar regions by the meteor. Some have supposed them to be merely projected from volcanoes : while others have suggested, that they might be thrown from the moon; or be bodies wandering through space, and at length brought within the sphere of attraction of our planet."

--From A dictionary of practical and theoretical chemistry--

So many theories, and the author is careful not to take sides, using "supposed" in the main description. He definitely understood the spirit of scientific investigation.

The explanation we use today wasn't handed down by a committee or what one person thought was best, but by years of experiments and arguing.

It doesn't make sense to take sides when all the information isn't known. At one point the French Academy of Sciences did make a ruling on the subject; they concluded that meteorites didn't fall from the sky at all, but were caused by lightning strikes. Fortunately, today we don't try discovering scientific truths through consensus. That would be idiotic.

Something borrowed: 1833

When a lady has borrowed ornaments of another, as for instance, jewels, the latter should always offer to lend her more than are asked for; she ought also to keep a profound silence about the things which she has lent, and even abstain from wearing them for sometime afterwards, in order that they may not be recognised. If any one, perceiving they were borrowed, should speak to the person of it, he would pass for an ill-bred man. If the borrower speaks to you of it, it is well to reply that nobody had recognised them. All this advice is minute, but what kind will you have ? it concerns female self-esteem.

--From The Gentleman and Lady's Book of Politeness and Propriety of Deportment--

The last sentence is so French... I practically want to clap my hands upon reading it.

You were brilliant Madame Celnart, brilliant.

Gems, 1833 edition

-Thanks to custom, it is sufficient in order to be recognised as amiable, that he who is the subject of a malicious pleasantry may laugh as well as the author of it.

-Moderation in every thing is so essential, that it is even a violation of propriety itself to affect too much the observance of it.

-To dress with neatness, and elegant simplicity is important, even at home.

--From The Gentleman and Lady's Book of Politeness and Propriety of Deportment--

I thought I'd take these sentences out of context and present them as aphorisms.

France, 1833 edition

The present work has had an extensive circulation in France, the country which we are accustomed to consider as the genial soil of politeness...

--From The Gentleman and Lady's Book of Politeness and Propriety of Deportment--

Well, the politeness of the French is still noted today. I can say that much!

Eternal things, 1815 edition

paperasserie - red tape; massive amounts of paperwork.

I went looking with Google Book Search and this was the earliest use I could find:

...cette éternelle paperasserie...

...this eternal paperwork...

Even though we can get rid of the paper, we can't seem to get rid of the paperwork. Perhaps it really is eternal.