The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-10-07
Saxon Etiuuette,

Saxon Etiquette.
There are few things more interesting
and pleasing to the American in Saxony
than the manners Of the people. These
manners are always good, if, at times,
they are somewhat strained and appear
to be unnatural, or, at least, altogether
too formal for every day use. In Chicago
if body meets body coming through
the streets, and the two happen to be
acquainted, the recognition which passes
between them consists of chow" show
do" "howareye," ego day" "howye-
now, " "gedevening," or ''go' morning"
Sometimes the salutation is followed by
a slight inclination of the head Some
times the eye-lids are raised trife, and
a sickly, cold-blooded smile breaks out
about the MOUTH smile that means
nothing, and that is intended to mean
nothing. In Chemnitz two gentlemen
who are acquainted never meet without
exchanging q cordial salutation and re-
specially raising their hats. There is
more hat-raising done here than in any
country in the world" said an American
commercial tourist to me the other day,
"and I'll be BANKED if | can understand
why the rims are not torn off from half
the hats in Chemnitz." A gentleman
of large acquaintance will in all prob
ability be compelled to raise his hat a
dozen times to the block, but he does it
gracefully, and apparently without pain
If you are walking with q gentlem an
and you meet an acquaintance of his
you are expected to raise your hat when
he does SO. You must raise your hat,
bow and pass the cOuntersign every time
he does, and he must treat your ac-
quaintances with the same consideration.
You are not permitted to raise your hat
and jam it back on your head again as
if you were afraid of being caught in
the act, but you must hold it gracefully
in your hand until the person you have
saluted is past. The recognition of a
lady differs from that which passes be-
tween gentlemen, and in the height to
which the hat is raised, the sweep which
you give it, and the bow which accom-
panies it, If the lady is merely a pass
ing acquaintance the salutation is very
cold, stiff and rather STACEY. If the lady
Is an intimate acquaintance, or one
whom you would like to have for an in
innate acquaintance, you must be pre-
pared to follow the raising of the hat
and the bow with a rush of soul to the
eyes and Il rush of imbecility to the face
Just exactly as you would do it in
America.
There is certain dignifed formality
expected from you, however, even by
your most intimate friends, and you
cannot drop the cOnventionalities with
out giving offense. To pass an acquant-
ance on the street without raising your
hat would be construed to mean either
that you intended a slight or that the
acquaintance was not one that you
valued very highly. The off-hand Ameri-
can fashion OF ducking your head and
rushing out of sight for fear you might
be detained, if practiced in SaXony,
would bring the indignation of the COM
munity down upon you. In walking
with a lady it is your duty always to
keep her on your left side-whether she
is on the outside or the inside of the
sidewalk. This rule is almost universal
in Europe. The idea is that your right
ARMOUR strong, manly, muscular
right arm-should be free to protect her
from any rudeness on the part of those
you meet. [ don't understand that the
strong right arm of the Saxon is ever
called upon to perform an act Of gal
lantry or valor, for the people are not
rude here and ladies are never inSulted.
You must never turn around to look
after q lady who has particularly at
tracted your attention, or with whose
charms you have been smitten at first
sight. You cannot do it without leaving
the impression that the lady in passing
was guilty of an indiscretion, and you
will be put down as an ill-bred lout your
self
You must never enter a place of bust
ness where there are ladies without re-
moving your hat, passing the compli-
ments of the day and making a respect
full bow. When your business is trans
acted you must not tear out of the store
as if you were pursued by furics. You
must say ''goodday," or ''good even
ing or something else appropriate lin
German, of course), bow to those in the
store, walk quietly to the door, turn
again and bow yourself out
Ii YOU SlU NtoNIl ttI btLDlC III u iCoIttu-
rant where there are others sitting you
must bow to each person separately and
pass a compliment. On leaving the table
you must go through the same perform
ance.
You mAst never know waiter by his
name, and you must never converse with
him. If you want any information,
send for the proprietor.
You can smoke after dinner if you
wish, but it is the rule not to do so if
there are ladies in the room.
You must not wheel baby-buggy, if
you are married man. That is duty
that belongs either to your wife or SER
| want girl.
Your servant girl, if she wheels your
baby-buggy, must follow you and your
wife, must keep off the sidewalks and
must not wear hat or bonnet or a vel
vet cloak.
You must not carry any bundles
through the streets. THE man with
the brown paper parcel under his ARM
| is the man who runs errands.
You must be very particular in the
treatment of those who come under the
head of your 'inferiors. If you don t
YOU will lose the respect of your 'infe-
riors" as well as your equals and
.superiors."