The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-20

Dnrss AND ApDREss.--There is, as We
are told, large class Of PR sons VINO un-
sSvsnustely laekthe cultivation which aiche
will bring the gentle spirit into such tram 70,
ing as will,ft 1t practically for exhioialo ~
in society" Fertile benefit OF this class %
persons two manuals have been compiieaL
one Of which treats Of the Laws OF oociS ms
and the other Of the Art Of Dress. We
should very much like to see person WIZ
dressed according to one Of these manuals.
and behaved according to the other OF tne, ~
and without intending to disparage tno ne =,
forts which will be made tonight 70 am't -
the nuhlic at the theatres, we ven.u.o ~
nredict that the appearance ana n'nunsio
n that nerson would be more luuieipue
shan anv burIesoue or pantomime that Is
likely to be produced. ;,to
training we will extract few OF the most
ua1nahIs Of the precepts which are collect
aS ~ tbese manuals. And first, as regards
m.rners. gentlemen who 60 to eve
n;nc nar.ies are directed to make them
selves as agreeable as possible, to refrain
from hanging about the door, and to en-.
deavor to promote the general enjoyment
of the party. On entering public car
riage gentleman should raise his hat, for
the observance Of this rule "tends TO
tighten the tedium and fatigue of travel:
II a gentleman has newspapers he Will
offer them to the other passengers before
reading them himself, but they, "1f they
have manners" will decline them. THIS
is. to borrow the writer's phrase, "etl-
onett;sbn behavior in. 8 railway car
rage. Another rule of the same cooe
is, that if you are going to smoke you
should "strike your fusee," and be-
fore using it offer it to the gentleman
nearest to you who is also going to smoke;
Considering that the passing OF llgh1ea1
fuse from hand to hand is an aWkw1Iu
and possibly dangerous operation, we "ouiu
suggest that it should be transferred,
if at all, before striking. But We 40 NOV
see why this beautiful expedient for light
ening the fatigue of travel should be re-
stricted in it's application to newspapers
and fusees. It gems to us to be lndlspu'a-
bly "etiouettish +" to offer to fellow-tra-
weller ones pocket-handkerchief before
using it oneself. IF it is clearly under
stood that politeness requires one man 10
offer newspaper and the other to decllne
i. the sooner such rule is abrogated the
better or, if it is preserved, it ought to be
extended to ones great coat, wrapper, cap,
and all other travelling conveniences' ana
every passenger ought to offer his seat 10
all the other passengers successfully.
There is a sheer somewhere in this book
at the Spanish host who assures his guest
that his house and all that it contains IS at
his disposal. But it is equally absurd TO
offer o newspaper which you do not expect
or desire to be accepted. If you meet
lady in the street, and she appears TO Wish
to speak to you, it is proper TO turn ana
walk with her and you are to insist on
taking any shook, parcel, or umbrella"
from her, and carry it as far as you 60
with her. 1t might by possibility happen
in the suburbs that q lady might be met
carrying baby, and it woull be useful to
be informed whether baby is "parcel
within the meaning of this rule. Another
rule, which may be found applicable at
Christmas, when card parties are common
is that ga gentleman pays for his lady
partner in the event of loss" We should
ike to see gentleman offering to do this
Saturday Reuieao.