The Knickerbocker, Vol. 22, No. 3, September 1843Various
General
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 22, No. 3, September 1843
Various
Periodicals
'RULE IV. Walk into a drawing-room behind your mamma. You appear
timid and retiring, and she acts as a standard-bearer, announces
your arrival, and people are better prepared to stare.
'RULE V. Encourage only beaux who can add to your power by
making you a great _Zaza_; such as great waltzers, singers;
men who are rich, and who seem to be attentive '_pour le bon
motif_,' must of course be fed upon faint hopes.
'RULE VI. When sitting in a drawing-room, always cross your
arms about your waist; each hand covering the small ribs on the
opposite side, as if, like the gallant old soldier in Pelham,
you wanted your hands to guard your heart. It is no objection to
this style that it is always adopted by awkward _cantatrices_ on
the stage--and off.
'RULE VII. It is well for a _Zaza_, if she lives in a
fashionable street, to read or embroider in a conspicuous
window, which she may call her _beau_-window.
'RULE VIII. In talking, do not make your lips and head go faster
than your tongue. The _Zaza_ is languid and shakes her head
slowly, looking all the while intently and impressively at the
person whom she is entertaining with----if he be a foreigner, a
fortune, or a Coryphæus.
'RULE IX. In drinking tea, coffee, or lemonade, hold the cup
with the thumb and the fore and middle fingers, and allow the
others to point rigidly into the air, at as great a distance as
possible from the three first enumerated.
'RULE X. In playing or singing, timidity and tremors are quite
out of date. The _Zaza_ glides up to the instrument as if she
had graduated at the Conservatoire, and sung three years at the
Académie Royale. The only expression of face allowable is the
smile of conscious power; such a smile as Jupiter's phiz might
wear when contemplating the feeble struggles of sublunarians. On
earth this smile may be often seen in female rope-dancers.
'RULE XI. If a person asks to be presented, the _Zaza_ 'really
don't know;' she 'has so many acquaintances;' _languidissimo_.
'RULE XII. If a _Zaza_ of three tails, always dance at the head
of a cotillon and lead off the waltz.
'RULE XIII. When a bad or an uncertain waltzer requests the
honor, the _Zaza_ is always engaged; but she may hint to a
Shuffleshanks to beg for a turn, or even ask him outright. This
has often been successfully practised by _Zazas_ of two tails.
'RULE XIV. If you have received a bouquet from an anonymous
admirer, or from your father, thank the most fashionable man, or
the _Great Catch_, or both; and loud enough to be overheard. You
believe not one word of their protestations, of course, and set
it down to modesty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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