Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-07-14
The Rules of POIileness aud Good
Breeding.

to- young lady in Iuciana. who is
! reader Of his valuable Journal, thu
lays down certain rules of good breec
ing, which all sensible ladies' and gel
tlemen will recognize as good con
mon sense:
The polite usage" in regard to as
cending stairs is a somewhat mootet
question. Some persons think it al
ways the better way for the gentle
man to precede the lady, both in as
cending aud descending. Others sa,
nothing is more absurd than to Dc
this. Precedence should always be
given to those to whom We owe re-
spect, or are accustomed to show it;
Consequently when the gentle man
does not ascend with the lady, be
should follow her, rot far behind, but
as closely as he conveniently cam
1t is often proper to offer the arm TO
a lady iu going up stairs. If there
are several ladies', assist the eldest,
OF the most feeble, or the one that
for any reason has special claim up
on your attention. The gentle man
will give the lady the side cf the
stairs next the taDisters, so that il
she need to use the railing she may
be able to do so.
Ia descending stairs the same rules
Of precedence may be Observed - the
gentleman following the lady at a
convenient distance.
If lady and gentleman, who are
strangers, meet at the foot Of a fight
Of stairs, the lady may, if she choos-
es, bow to the gentleman to ascend
before her. He, of course, bows
courteOusly to her as be passes up.
If a lady and a gentleman meet
on a public stairs, or at passage way,
be moves sufficiently to one side TO
permit her to pass readily, touching
bis hat as be does so. Should a la
dy be entering the parior or dining,
hall of d hotel, eitbor alone or in
company with a gentleman, another
gentleman who should meet her,
should give her the precedence with
a slight bow. A lady should always
acknowledge these courtesies by an
answering bow. If we'll bred she will /
receive no attention any tiu.e, with
out graceful bow or nod, although /
it may be slight return. /
Gentle men, when walking with la
dies On the street, should take the
side which will best protect them
rom inconvenience. In the coun
-ry it is usual 10 give the lady the
inside Of the walk; i'll a city or yiI-
age the gentleman shoulG walk be- !
.ween her and the crowd, on which /
.ver side it may be. Ii there be /
20 crowd il matters not which side .
10 takes. /
If gentleman meets lady with
whom he wishes 10 bave minute
conversation, it is better to turn and
walk with her than to detain her =
This is especially important in cities,
where it Is often q great irconven-
ence to have the side walk obs,ruct-
ID by those who are shaking hands
and exchanging most kiud and cor,
dial greetings. Where ladies stop
to>speak to each other they should
retire from the current, and not per-
init themse Ives to incommode Others.
1t is expected Of lady to recog-
nize gentleman who has been in-
froduced TO her. If she does not,
be is not at liberty to recognize her.
Gentlemen usually lift or touch
The bat when boSing to a lady. Not
to do this implies that the person sa-
uted is an inferior. Gentlemen
should raise The hat when meeting a |
gentleman acquaintance if be isaecom-
panied by lady; a mere nod would
be considered disrespectful to her
If, when walking with friend, you
meet TN acquaintance, it is not prop.
II in ordinary circumstances to,intro-I
auce the friend.
1t is always proper for ladies to ac-
cep. needed civilities from strangers,
md such civili.ies should always be
rev arded with an II thank you, sir,
or pleasant smile, or courteous bow.
Do not when talking with Your
friends place your hand upon them
to give emphasis to your remarks
This "nudging" is vulgar. There
can be no surer indication of i'll.
breeding.