West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-01-25
Papers on Social Etiquette.
BY MRS. II. o. WARD.

from the Youths Companion.
When friends meet, or visitor is
ushered into a drawing-room, or
sitting-room, the usual salutation
is, "How do you do" The answer
is not, Thank you, lam very well"
but Glow do you do" When leav-
ing, the visitor says, "Good-bye,"
and the hostess repeats, Good
bye"
The salutation is said to be the
touch-stone Of good-breeding. Be-
tween gentlemen, a nod suffices
but if a lady is walking with you,
or with the one to whom you bow,
the hat must be slightly lifted. A
well-bred person bows instinctively
the moment that he recognizes an
acquaintance.
Gentlemen i,uariaby offer the
right arm to ladies, when it is ne
cessary to give the arm, instruc-
tions to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. This rule is the same on the
street, without regard to the wall,
as it is in the parlor, at marriages,
at all entertainments, and on all
other occasions. A lady does not
take the arms of two gentlemen i;
nor does gentleman offer both of
his arms when walking with two
ladies. American gentlemen do
not smoke when walking or driving
with ladies.
Introductions are not made on
the street, unless a lady is walking
with her host or hostess; in which
case, if either meet friend, an in
PRODUCTION would be given. When
two persons are introduced in a
house, both bow slightly, and COM
mence conversation. A gentleman
is introduced to lady; "Mr, Grey,
Mrs. Birch" is the form.
Young ladies are taken up to be
introduced to elderly ones, and the
unmarried to the married. A gen
tleman when introduced does not
offer his hand to a lady, as that is
the lady's privilege. The mistress
of a house shakes hands with every
one who is introduced to her in her
own home,-whether the person is
brought by a common friend, or
comes by invitation. She would
not shake hands with visitor who
came to call on a guest, unless she
had some special reason for doing
so.
Never speak of your children as
"Miss Ethel" or "Master Harold"
Give them their Christian names.
Gentlemen should precede ladies,
to clear the way, in a public hall,
unless there be lady preceding
them. In entering a drawing
room, the lady precedes the gentle
man, but never takes his arm,
To yawn in the presence of others,
to beat time, to hum or whistle, to
lounge, to put your feet on a chair,
or to do anything which shows in
difference, selfshness or disrespect,
is uequivocally vulgar. Shutting,
expectoration, hawking, scratching
the head ,gulping, picking the teeth,
and blowing the nose, should be
avoided in society.
Avoid saying ''you know" says
he," and she," when narrating Incl
dents. Do not speak of absent per-
sons by their Christian names
or surnames. Above all nev-
er name any one by the first letter
of his or her name, as "Mr. g." for
"Mr. Grey" This is a vulgarity
which married persons sometimes
use.
A lady who sits cross-legged, or
sideways on a chair. who twirls her
trinkets, or picks at anything, and
a man who sits across his chair,
bites his nails, or nurses his leg,
manifests an unmistakable want
of good-breeding. Both should be
quiet, easy and graceful in their
carriage.
Well-bred persons never elbow
their way in a crowd, nor force
themselves in seats, at concerts and
lectures, which are already full
nor do they talk and laugh in tones