The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-15

! set of social circumstances. Oftcntimcs
| awkward conduct causes the person guiltyo of
| il much subsequent distress of mind; and
| it may prove serious injury to his pros
poets in life 1t is peculiarly notifying to
reflect ON opportunities for doing grace
! ful thing and for making neat reply, utter
! ~ lost through negligence or stupidity.
when, If improved, they might have been
| the stepping stones to fortune, or, better
| still, the favor of some fair one. Ii Il, there
| FORE very important part Of our dutytO
| instruct our readers in matters OF proprie-
ty. the laws Of which, though unwrlttcn.
have been handed down from genera
ton to generation, and form sort OF social
constitution, of binding force ON all men
and women of highly civilized countries. To
this body of prccedents we shall refer in an
swerng certain questions which CORE
spondents have submitted to US in the not
vain assurance that they will receive the in
formation for which they ask.
First, we take up the grave and fundamen-
tai inquiries Of friend in Virginia, who
writes from Land Of Promise, settlement
Of the Old Dominion. These are his ques-
| tions:
"s,R.r wish to have your opinion I.ts mock Of 20
likeness raise the hat above the head m bowing 10
lady either riding sanns' Also Jew hint, table
| etiquette II your columns wall admit SUBSCRIBER"
Our opinion is that it is not mock Of
politcness 10 raise your hat to Il lady, but "A
due and proper expression OF chivalrous re-
spcct to the fair sex Tho hat should bc
raised whether you are walking, riding, or
driving. II Is not enough to touch your
hat, or just lit it the polite aud punctilious
man raises it above his head. 1t is easy 20
do, and the act pleases the lady. Why not
do it, then?
Questions Of table etiquette are much more
difficult to treat; indeed, 1t would take
volume to discuss them properly; though
man Of tact stands in no necd of such
treatise. 1t is all wrong to make a loud
noise in eating your soup. There Is no ne
cessity for it, and the sound is extremely
of"-ei"o So"a" r"orin coy vow @"~''i' .,'''
me soup vut Vr tii' eide " IN" spoon. rather
than the end; but that is not fundamental
law. Though you may be very hungry,
never eat vOraciously, as If you had never
before enjoyed good fare. IT is also in very
bad taste to exhibit no appetite at all; that
Is 10 east slur on your hosts viands Nor
should you be- SO engrossed with eating that
you cannot talk. Your host does not invite
you to his table merely To- feed you; he cX-
poets you will make yourself agreeable
through your witty or wise conversation,
aud thus contribute your part to the enjoy
mcnt Of the rcpast Do not try TO haranguc
the whole table. for then you may
become n bore, and prevent other peo-
pie from talking who may have great
deal to say that is moro valuable and inter-
esting than your orationS. II you can sue
coed in entertaining the lady next you, count
yourself fortunate, and attempt nothing
further unless you are forced 10 do other
wise Then bc brief in your remarks, and
make it an invaIiahe rule never to start the
laugh at your own jokes. POlitcness Will
compel your companions at the table to
laugh, any way. even if the story is old and
iudincrently told. Rely on that for APP
plnusc, III fine, behave like a discreet mod
est, and sensible gentleman, and you will
get on well enough at a dinner
Another Quc. tion of proprcty propoundcd
10 u, concerns the manner of the introduce
tlon of young gentleman TO Il young lady.
This is the form ia which il is put:
"se. Lam young man Iu.i entering .ocictv and wish
to4nir,.!l,. 'uDn- man t'H ills llcui 90 mlur MlI
Antreh-r inform nr rIr proper WAY :" conduct tits
ccro1ny snrro.ng iho ca.e a. he rs follows Ihc young
lnd, name i. Nil, ASS. WILLIAM. aged % YEAR. Hui
the youu. man name !. Enw,un WAN aged Ii ycnr..
Sow. .ir You may not see 90 Go answer thI- com.
munlc Htiun but trust Nlu will for have mot the
chance that many others have OF knowing how to act IN
secretly You're truly W.
oar correspondent Mood have had no fear
that W. would neglect his important qucs-
tiun. We are glad to 7ee that he has So
nish 2 regard for n" proprietics Of life and
has not rashly assumed the responsibility
of introducing Mr. WARD to Mis- WILLIAMS
without being sure beforehand that he was
acting just as he should act. The proper
thing to do is TO inquire OF Miss WILLIAMS
If she will grant Mr. WARD the favor of an
Introduction. If she consents, choose some
opportunity agreeable to her and grace
fully present the young gentleman, saying
a few words that will be likely to secure for
your friend the young lady'5 favor and in
tcrest II she refuses, then the thing Is all
up, and Mr.. WARD will have to go without
the acquaintance Of Miss WILLIAMS.
German gentleman refers to us an OK
trcmely delicate matter, and one in which
we hesitate to interfere. StIli we may say
few words which, We hope, will heal a
breach that might widen into an impossible
gulf This is our German friends case:
sir am married man about i've years, was atthc
time already wei IT have h,on always hlsllN re-
sioerL IHctei Hccorlin-iN had many chances 10
marry out of wealthy ami rr-t class families fem In
love Nliu POOR Nnun. woman had my compliments fc-
tlr D., l,r. and after found Der to bee very indus
inn'>ar respectable. lmaiucd her. " 10 t.lNy She
Y't- eNrN Iuns she wishes NOW, since lhe Last two
3tAf-.'t llllll an company with Others, sAc act,
Nefs GOOD. IArtil'r laA atH 500 Hilc, She ten, me so
hutNiNly. iui,uns M gentleman, ION, how do l
bose fust intuI lna.e woult you lNc YOUR opinion or
nd,l.e what o. dof \ Momutp lluspANp'
Vnquc.tionobly the lady ought not to have
g -aidthi-, but perhaps She was only in fun.
/ Ihobr-t Trims, to do 10 make her SO in love