George Washington's Rules of Civility: Traced to their Sources and Restored by Moncure D. ConwayWashington, George
History
George Washington's Rules of Civility: Traced to their Sources and Restored by Moncure D. Conway
Washington, George
Etiquette
It is not seemly to leave your bed disarranged, to dress or undress
before others, or to leave your chamber half-dressed, covered with
a hood, or night-cap, or to remain standing in your room or at your
desk with open gown. And although you have a servant to make your
bed, nevertheless, take care when you go out to leave it uncovered.
8th. At Play and at Fire its Good manners to give Place to the last
Commer, and affect not to Speak Louder than ordenary.
Chapter ii. 15. Il est mal-seant, dans le jeu, ou aupres du feu de
faire attendre trop long-temps ceux qui viennent à s'y presenter.
It is impolite at play, or at the fireside, to make the new-comers
wait for places too long.
_(In the second clause, "affect not" &c., the Washington MS.
follows Hawkins in misunderstanding a phrase of the next Maxim:
"Prenez garde de vous échauffer trop au jeu, & aux emportements qui
s'y eleu[~e]t,"--a warning against being overheated at play, and
"carried away by its excitements.")_
10th. When you Sit down, Keep your Feet firm and Even, without putting
one on the other or Crossing them
Chapter ii. 18. Pour l'ordre que l'on doit tenir étant assis, c'est
de placer bien ses pieds à terre en égale distance que les cuisses,
non pas de croiser vne cuisse ou vn pied sur l'autre.
When seated, the feet should be placed well on the ground, in even
distance with the legs, and neither a leg or a foot should be
crossed on the other.
11th. Shift not yourself in the Sight of others nor Gnaw your nails.
Chapter ii. 7. C'est vne inciuilité insupportable d'allonger son
corps en estendant les bras, ou de faire differents postures.
Chapter iii. 19. Il ne faut iamais rogner ses ongles dans le
public, & bien moins les prendre à beiles dents.
It is insufferably impolite to stretch the body, extend the arms,
or to assume different postures.
Do not pare your nails in public, much less gnaw them.
12th. Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs rowl not the Eys, lift not one
eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face
with your Spittle, by appr[oaching too nea]r [when] you Speak.
Chapter ii. 21. Vous ne hocherez la teste, vous ne remuerez point
les jambes, ny ne roüillerez les yeux, ne froncerez point les
sourcils, ou tordrez la bouche. Vous vous garderez de laisser aller
auec vos paroles de la saliue, ou du crachat aux visages de ceux,
auec qui vous conversez. Pour obvier à cét accident, vous ne vous
en approcherez point si prés; mais vous les entretiendrez dans vne
distãce raisonnable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account