# Book of Etiquette/Volume 1

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BOOK OF ETIQUETTE
© Brown Bros.
ON HER WEDDING DAY
The greatest charm of the bride's costume lies in its simplicity
BOOK OF ETIQUETTE
BY LILLIAN EICHLER
VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED
NELSON DOUBLEDAY, Inc. OYSTER BAY, N. Y. 1922
COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY
NELSON DOUBLEDAY, INC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, INCLUDING THAT OF TRANSLATION
INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES, INCLUDING THE SCANDINAVIAN
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES
AT
THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y.
PREFACE
Success without culture is like old-fashioned strawberry short cake without the whipped cream. It has no flavor.
There are certain little courteous observances, certain social formalities that bespeak the true lady, the true gentleman. Some of us call it good form. Some of us call it culture. Some of us call it etiquette. But we all admit that it makes the world a better place to live in.
In Italy, young men and women are considered ben educato, not when they can read and write, but when they know the established forms of convention—when they can show by a correct dignity and ease of manner that they are perfect in their knowledge of the rules of good society. And, after all, don't you yourself judge people by what they do, and say, and wear? Don't you read in their manner and appearance the secret of their inner worth? Isn't character and disposition revealed in the outer personality?
Perhaps you have heard the story of the "gentleman" who prided himself on being perfect in the art of etiquette. On one occasion, he passed a lake and heard a drowning man call for help. Quickly he threw off his coat and was about to plunge into the water, when he suddenly re​remembered that he had never been introduced to the struggling victim. Putting on his coat again, he proceeded on his way quite self-satisfied.
This is an instance where common-sense would have been the better part of etiquette. Too rigid an observance of the laws of good society makes them nothing short of an absurdity. The purpose of correct manners is not to enable us to strut about in society and command the admiring glances of the people around us—as the peacock, in its vanity, parades before onlookers in a proud dignity that is quite obviously assumed. The true service of etiquette is so to strengthen and simplify the social life that we are able to do what is absolutely correct and right without even stopping to think about it.
That, then, is the purpose of THE BOOK OF ETIQUETTE—to give to the reader so clear and definite an understanding of the social life that he will be able to have at all times, under all conditions, that unaffected grace and charm of manner that the French like to call savoir faire. It has been written, not for the exceedingly ill-bred or for the highly polished, but for those who find a certain sense of satisfaction in doing what is correct—sincere men and women who, in the performance of their business and social duties, find that there is a constant need for cordial and gracious relationship with those around them.
If the following chapters awaken in the reader the desire for closer companionship with the vast world of human nature, of which we are all a part; if it takes from his nature all that is coarse, awkward and unrefined, substituting instead of gallantry of spirit and a gentleness ​of breeding; if it makes him a more loving and a more lovable person—then THE BOOK OF ETIQUETTE will have served its purpose.
Incidentally, the author is indebted to Mr. L. E. Smith, without whose coöperation this book would never have been written.
Lillian Eichler.
CONTENTS
PART I
What is Etiquette?—Laws of Society—Control of the Impulses—Regard for the Rights of Others—The Danger of Intolerance—Why it Pays to Be Agreeable—The Simplest Culture.
The Origin of Manners—The Manners of To-day—Good Society in America—The True Lady and Gentleman—The Secret of Social Success—What Manners Will Do for You—Etiquette's Reward.
Of Special Importance—The Proposal—The Engagement Ring—Announcing the Engagement—The Most Usual Method—Announcing an Engagement in the Newspapers—Engagement Gifts—Bridal Showers—Length of the Engagement—Responsibility for the Wedding—Families and Friends.
The Church Wedding—Attendants—The Bridesmaids—Rehearsals—Regarding the Ushers—The Wedding Day—Arriving at the Church—Wedding Music—The Wedding Procession—The Ceremony—Leaving the Altar—Rice, etc—The Wedding Reception—The Wedding Breakfast—The Wedding Present—Acknowledging Wedding Presents—The Home Wedding—The Second Wedding—Some Important Conventions—Seeking Advice—Wedding Anniversaries—The Silver Wedding—The Reception—Tin and Wooden Weddings—The Golden Wedding—The Golden Wedding a Glorious Achievement.
Origin of the Trousseau—The Trousseau of To-day—About the Linens—For the Bride—The Wedding Dress—The Bride's Veil—Wedding Flowers—Dress of the Maid of Honor—Marrying in Traveling Dress.
Announcing the Birth of the Child—Responding to the Announcement—Godparents—Invitations to a Christening—A Church Christening—The House Christening—After the Baptism—Gifts.
PART II
Purpose of the Introductions—Creating Conversation—When to Introduce—Importance of Care—Special Introductions—When the Name Isn't Heard—The Correct Introduction—Group Introductions—The Chance Introduction—Incomplete Introductions—Indirect Introductions—The Acknowledgment—Forms of Acknowledgment—Future Recognition of Introduction—Introducing at Dinner—Introducing at the Dance—Introducing at Receptions—Speaking without Introduction—Introducing Children—Cordiality in Introductions.
The Beginning of Social Calls—When Calls are Made—The Proper Length of a Call—The Day at Home—Dress for Calls—Paying the First Call—Calls of Obligation—About Returning Calls—The Call of Condolence—The Call of Congratulations and Inquiry—The Social Calls of Men—The Invalid's Call—Asking a New Acquaintance to Call—The Woman's Business Call—Receiving Calls—Duties of the Hostess—Receiving the Chance Caller—When the Host is at Home—Taking Leave of the Hostess—The Evening Call—When Gentlemen Receive Callers—Making a Chance Call—Informal Calls.
Some General Rules—Invitation to a Formal Dance—Accepting the Invitation—For the Informal Dance—The Dinner Dance—The Debut Dance—Invitations for the Subscription Dance—Acknowledging Subscription Dance Invitations—Invitation to Public Ball—Requesting an Invitation—The Dinner Invitation—In Honor of Celebrated Guests—The Acknowledgments—For the Informal Dinner—When the Dinner is Not at Home—The Daughter as Hostess—Inviting a Stop-Cap—To Break a Dinner Engagement—Invitations for Luncheons—Acknowledging the Luncheon Invitation—The Informal Invitation—Reception Invitations—Reception in Honor of a Special Guest—Invitations to Garden Parties—Acknowledging the Garden Party Invitation—House or Week-End Parties—The "Bread-and-Butter" Letter—Invitations to the Theater and Opera—Invitations to Musicales and Private Theatricals—Children's Party Invitations—Invitations to a Christening—A Word of Special Caution.
The Home—Appearance of the House—Dress—Dress for Children—Children and Development—Know Your Children!—Imitation—The Child's Speech—At the Table—Playmates—Children's Parties—Planning Surprises—Receiving the Young Guests—About the Birthday Party—When the Young Guests Leave—Children's Entertainments Away from Home—Children and Dancing—A Word to Parents—Amusements—Let the Child be Natural—The Young Girl—The Girl's Manner—The Chaperon—The Young Country Miss—The Girl and Her Mother—For the Shy and Self-Conscious—Forget About Yourself—Why the Shy are Awkward—Self-Confidence Versus Conceit—Country Hospitality—Importance of Simplicity—The Hostess—The Guest—For Country Folks—The Endless Round of Hospitality—When to Invite—The Guests and Their Duties—Addressing Titled People.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1979, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 44 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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