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
99th. Drink not too leisurely nor yet too hastily. Before and after
Drinking wipe your Lips breath not then or Ever with too Great a Noise,
for its uncivil
Chapter viii. 34. Ne boiuez point trop lentement ny trop à la
haste, ny comme en maschant le vin, ny trop souuent ny sans eau,
car c'est à faire aux yvrognes. Deuant & apres que vous aurez beu,
effuyez-vous les lévres, & ne respirez pas auec trop grand bruit,
ny alors, ny iamais, car c'est vne chose bien inciuile.
Drink neither too slowly nor too hastily, nor as if gulping the
wine, nor too frequently, nor without water--as drunkards do.
Wipe your lips before and after drinking, and do not breathe too
loudly then or at any other time, for that is very inelegant.
100th. Cleanse not your teeth with the Table Cloth Napkin Fork or Knife
but if Others do it let it be done w't a Pick Tooth
Chapter viii. 36. Ne vous nettoyez pas les dents auec la nappe, ou
la seruiette, ny auec le doigt, la fourchette, ou le cousteau. Ce
seroit faire pis de le faire auec les ongles, mais faites-le auec
le curedent. Aussi ne semble-il estre bien-seant de se les nettoyer
en table, si ce n'estoit que les autres le fissent, & que ce fust
la coustume des mieux ciuilisez.
Do not clean your teeth with the tablecloth, napkin, finger, fork,
or knife. It were still more objectionable to do so with the
nails. Use a toothpick. It also does not appear well-bred to pick
them at table, unless others do so, and where such is a custom of
the more gentlemanly.
101st. Rince not your Mouth in the Presence of Others
Chapter viii. 37. Ne vous rincez point la bouche auec du vin, pour
le reietter en presence des autres; mais sorty que vous serez de
table, accoustumez vous à lauer les mains auec les autres. Quant à
la bouche, il semble n'estre pas à propos de la lauer en presence
des gens, & partant quand l'on donne à lauer, mesme en table, l'on
doit seulement lauer les mains.
Do not rinse your mouth with wine, to be rejected in the presence
of others; but, having left the table, accustom yourself to wash
your hands with the rest. As to the mouth, it does not appear
proper to wash it in company at all, and consequently when an
opportunity of washing is offered, even at the table, the hands
only should be washed.
102d. It is out of use to call upon the Company often to Eat nor need
you Drink to others every Time you Drink
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