Our Deportment: Or the Manners, Conduct and Dress of the Most Refined SocietyYoung, John H.
General
Our Deportment: Or the Manners, Conduct and Dress of the Most Refined Society
Young, John H.
Etiquette
You should be exceedingly cautious about expressing an unfavorable
opinion relative to a young lady to a young man who appears to be
attracted by, and attentive to her. If they should marry, the
remembrance of your observations will not be pleasurable to yourself nor
the married parties.
A CONVERSATION CHECKED.
If a person checks himself in a conversation, you should not insist on
hearing what he intended to say. There is some good reason for checking
himself, and it might cause him unpleasant feelings to urge him to carry
out his first intentions.
VULGARITIES.
Some of the acts which may be classed as vulgarities when committed in
the presence of others are given:
To sit with your back to a person, without asking to be excused.
To stand or sit with the feet wide apart.
To hum, whistle or sing in suppressed tones.
To stand with the arms akimbo; to lounge or yawn, or to do anything
which shows disrespect, selfishness or indifference.
To correct inaccuracies in the statements of others, or their modes of
speech.
To use profane language, or stronger expression than the occasion
justifies.
To chew tobacco and its unnecessary accompaniment, spitting, are vulgar
in the extreme.
MISCELLANEOUS RULES.
A gentleman precedes a lady passing through a crowd; ladies precede
gentlemen under ordinary circumstances.
Give your children, unless married, their Christian names only, or say
"my daughter" or "my son," in speaking of them to any one except
servants.
Ladies in escorting each other, never offer to take the arm.
Acknowledge an invitation to stop with a friend, or any unusual
attention without delay.
Never boast of birth, money or friends, or of any superior advantages
you may possess.
Never ridicule others, be the object of your ridicule present or absent.
Always show respect for the religious opinions and observances of
others, no matter how much they may differ from your own.
You should never scratch your head, pick your teeth, clean your nails or
pick your nose in company.
Never lean your head against the wall, as you may disgust your wife or
hostess by soiling the paper of her room.
Never slam a door or stamp noisily on entering a room.
Always be punctual. You have no right to waste the time of others by
making them wait for you.
Always hand a chair for a lady, pick up her glove and perform any little
service she may seem to require.
Never attract attention to yourself by talking or laughing loudly in
public gatherings.
Keep yourself quiet and composed under all circumstances. Do not get
fidgety. If you feel that time drags heavily, do not let this be
apparent to others by any visible sign of uneasiness.
Refrain from absent-mindedness in the presence of others. You pay them a
poor compliment if you thus forget them.
Never refuse to accept an apology for an offense, and never hesitate to
make one, if one is due from you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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