Etiquette for Little FolksMackarness, Henry S., Mrs.
General
Etiquette for Little Folks
Mackarness, Henry S., Mrs.
Etiquette for children and teenagers -- Juvenile literature
Arrived at the place, and disrobed of your cloak, let your gloves be
on, and with erect form and firm step, enter the parlor. Look towards
the lady of the house, and walk up at once to her, not turning to the
right or the left, or noticing any one, until you have made your bow to
her, and to the host. Then you may turn off towards the young people,
and take a seat among them, with that agreeable expression of sympathy
on your face, which encourages conversation.
On entering the dining-room, you must use your eyes to discover which
part of the table is considered the most honorable. Try to seat
yourself among the least important portion of the company, unless
desired by the lady or gentleman of the house to take a particular seat.
When fairly seated in the right place, spread your napkin in your lap
to protect your dress from accident; take off your gloves, and put them
in your lap, under your napkin.
When you send your plate for anything, whether by the hand of a
servant or friend, take off the knife and fork, and lay them down on
the cloth, supporting the ends on your bread, or hold them in your hand
in a horizontal position.
After dinner, you are expected to take leave more generally and
sociably, than after any other kind of party, except it be a small
supper party.
GOING INTO COMPANY.
A young person ought to be able to go into a room, and address the
company, without the least embarrassment.
Ignorance and vice are the only things of which we need be ashamed.
Avoid these, and you may go into what company you will.
A modest assurance in every part of life, is the most advantageous
qualification we can possibly acquire.
[Illustration: decorative line]
GOOD BREEDING.
To show the politeness of a true gentleman, you must be quick to
observe four things:
1. What your place is.
2. What is due to every person.
3. How to do what is proper in an agreeable manner.
4. How to make yourself acceptable to others, in person, manners, and
conversation.
You can be as polite to the boot-black as to the President. This is
done, not by an air of condescension, but by treating him as a man,
according to his place. Render him his due, and he will be likely to
render you yours.
The same person who is overbearing to his inferiors, is likely to show
a cringing servility to his superiors. Both faults are marks of a mean
and groveling mind. Maintain your self-respect, if you would enjoy the
respect of others.
Cherish that delicacy of sentiment, that quick sympathy with others,
that nice sense of justice which will make you as regardful of their
feelings as of their more substantial rights, and you will not fail to
be polite. Without the sentiments of a gentleman, you may know all the
rules of politeness, and be scrupulously observant of all the external
forms of good breeding, and yet never be a gentleman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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