Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-01-10
Social Intercourse.

number of racy extracts from an unpublished MS.
on Manners. The following are found amongst
them:
"The minutie of manners change with other
fashions. Once it was elegant to pull off your
gloves before Offering friendly a ceremoni
Gus hand.' Now one would think of such a
proceeding except stage driver o. a membe of
Congress. Indeed it takes we'll gloved man two
or three minutes TO peel his hand.
GOOD manners spring from good sense and good
feeling, no doubt; but the often repeated deiuH
that Good breeding is in the mnd,' is mere lwad-
die. There are rare men, so slngulaTly gifted that
that are inStinctVely we'll bTed-SO Ierah Colburn
instantly OWNED the solution of mathematical
problem; but Colburn never went very far in
mathematics; nor do these natures gentlemen by
any means exhaust the art Of good behavior"
Our author lays down, as general principle, TO
"avoid the appearance OF FORM" The tone of
modern society Is easy and unceremonious. Never
undertake to go through with bit of fine manners
when the intention IS transparent-one should be
natural, acting always as il one could not have
done otherwise. Perhaps the great secret of good
manner is to forget YOURSELF Conscious people
must indit hard to avoid awkwardness. One for
maIity is pTactiSed in this favored land to fearful
extent. The farther South you go, the worse 1t is.
We mean that of introducing, Smith, of Mississippi,
meets his friend Brown, of Alabama, walking with
Jones of Tennessee. Brown instantly cries: Mr..
Smith, Mr.. Jones, of TenneSseeP They advance,
shake hands, fall back and touch their beayerS.-
Come, gentlemen, let's take a drink2 What shall
it be2 All drink. Jones then sees Thompson ap-
preaching. Mr.. Smith, MIR. Thompson, of Texas
more shaking of hands, more touching of bea-
verS, more drinking, and so on through tie entire
thirty States. A tEaveleronce told me that he had
undergone fourteen introductons and fourteen in.
vitaioEs to "licker," in one evening at q club in
Southern city. At the north, he gets of with a
shake of the hand-another Udious custom. The
should never be given exceptto friend or pretty
woman.
''The true rule is never to introduce unless there
is an express reason for making two people nc
quainted. Ifyour friends meet in your house, tie
roof is sufficient introduction; iu the street, they
require none. Otherwise you take great respon-
dJility upon YOURSELF although, it is generally ad
mitted, that these introductions require future
recognition"
We must add, on our own authority, thatpresent
is the proper wo:d for this kind of acquaintance
making. Introduce, both the word andthe custom,
may be laid.aside with ''genteel."
As regards the matter of dinner, which our
thor truly, but not originally, terms the most i'm
porant hour IL every twenty-four, there are seve-
raj customs and ceremonies obtaining among us,
which he hints should be quietly suffered 10 drop.
For instance the drinking of healths is altogether
exploded-''that solemn question addressed across
the table, the formal assent, the simultaneous and
c. remonious bow, is laid to rest with other stupid
pIacticeS." Pairing off two and two for the march
to the dining-room he objects 10, as stiff and un-
necessary. 1t always reminded us of the process
sion of Noah and his family into the Ark. The
plates should be ticketed. Let the invites find
Inen way IN seal themselves OppOSlle lle1T
names. "The guest when he is helped should
commence proceedings, and not sit with hands fold
ed and plate smoking under his hungry nose as if
they wanted TO begin fair with the rest. This is in
the country considered very lofty breedimg-in
town it is absurd as 10 avoid taking the last of
any dish"
''If you are the Amphitryon, gentle reader, re-
member that LGisSez:f fairs is Noteworthy max
i'm in entertaining as in politics Let your guests
alone as much as possible. Do not press them to
drink nor be always begging them to take bit
more. One refusal is sufficient. You insult your
friend by supposing him too bashful to ask for a
mother slice"
s.NeYer ask guest to carve-iti is an ,nAictiorl,
and servants work. Never reprove servants nor
children before company,-make as little parade
of either as possible. Beware of apologies to your
guests. Be satisfied that what is good enough for
you-is good enough for them. Entertain without
ostentation or shamefulneSs. Never commit the
odious and almost universal snobbishness of prais
ing your wine. Mention its name and brand i'll
you like, and say no more. Pray do not give us
its producer and tell us what YOU paid for it.
'No guest" says Blackwood, "with palate 20
his mouth, will relish the wine any better because
the nnny hammer who gives it declares that cost
him seven guineaS dozen. We don't want to-
know from an entertainer, unless he was tavern
keeper, thu absolute cost OF hls yictuals."
ga bachelor is person who enjoys everything
and pays for nothing. Nevertheless, most men
marry, at least in this country. Being married,
they should never trouble the enjoyment of the
bachelor by fonding their wives in his presence, OF
any manner of public Tenderness upon
them. There is nothing inWoBe taste. The by
ISLANDERS areBnIe to be either envous or unhappy for
tits bitter thing, ssShakespeare tells MS, TO look
at happiness through another mans eyes; or they
think the sentiment misplaced, and are disguised.
Every Benedict should economize the exuberance
of his affection, ndkeep it to BReetsn tGtes
He will want it all before he gets to the end"
'1f a man has to convey his wife and his moth
er.in-laW, (pOor felloWD thereby making what is
called in Massachusetts,, Lynn couple, 1.-TWO gals
and felleI," let him beware of oferingan ann 80
each, and walking sandwich between them. An !
offence against appearances which could not be h
Tolerated. even in serious male, accompanying two K
strong minded sisiers from anniversary meeting at
he Tabernacle. ssTS - i
tflhs French have happy Phrase for this meth
y; tney eau Il gong e. ga4.sy The alusion isto