The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-09-06


Then she turned in her queen-like beauty.
While my heart for moment froze,
lab gettlg cold ID by dose"
MRS. BLOSSOM ON ETIQUETTE.
Mrs. Blossom entertained book
agent in her parlor the other day. 1t
was contrary to the custom; sheAusually
rold them, through the screen door, that
she had the book in the house, had had
it for some time. But this agent was a
lady, and she wore black turban
trimmed with jets, and a jetted mantle,
and talked so politely, and, withal, with
such touch of sadness in her manner,
that Mrs. Blossom felt sure she had
seen better days. She was canvassing
for work on etiquette. Mrs. Blossom
at first bristled up, and said she didn't
need the book, but the agent said
Everybody needed it, And she went
on TO say how they seemed like slight
things. the laws that governed the social
relations between ourselves and our fell
low men; but the happiness of a life
often hung in the balance upon trifling
word or act. How important, then,
that we should thoroughly understand
the rules of etiquette, by which the
wheels of social machinery were oiled,
and the cultured lady or gentleman dis
tinguished from the rustic boor: Mrs.
Blossom said she hadn't thought of it in
that light before, and she guessed she
would take the book. The agent said
it was only four dollars, and further
added that with that book, the Bible
and Shakespeare in the house, no one
could fail to be a thoroughly educated
and a cultured lady.,ii rfBft
Mrs. Blossom was a little surprised to
find all of the intelligent lady agents
beautiful remarks in the first chapter of
the book. but she none the less eagerly
deyoured the contents. She told Mr..
Blossom at tea that night. that all she
regretted in her early education was the
lack of thorough training in etiquette.
1t made her feel dreadfully to think of
the awful blunders she had made, just
from not knowing. Pm glad now,"
she said, Ito know just what to do,
everywhere, at all times. And l mean
to teach the children etiquette, to. It's
powerful agent for promoting peace,
harmony and good will among men,"
She cribbed that last sentence from the
book, and delivered it with considerable
gusto; but her better-half only said:
lis that so?" and continued to read the
reports of the Guiteau trial.
In the course of the evening Mrs.
Blossom nine times reminded her hus-
band of some terrible crime against
good breeding, which he was daily in
the habit of committing.
The next day she hired carriage and
went out in a driving rain to return some
first calls, which the book said should
positively be returned within three or
four days.
She said that card for. the lady of
the house might be folded so as to in
clude the rest of the family. and asked
Mr.. Blossom what he supposed that
meant Mr.. Blossom said he'd be
hanged if he knew. And she left her
cards turned down at four corners and
bent in the middle, and said if that
didn't include the family she didn't
know what would.
She snatched plate of toast away
from Corny at the table. and told him
that "when asparagus was served with
toast, the toast should not be eaten"
Corny said he liked the toast, and didn't
like asparagus, but she said that didn't
make any difference; it didn't say what
to do in such a case.
She read the book through slowly, a
chapter day, and she had just gotten
to the chapter on parties and balls when
they were invited to a reception ut the
Neasmith's.
The Neasmiths had lately returned
from abroad, and Mrs. Blossom said she
supposed everything would be done up
in European style, but she didn't mean
to appear green there, if she new her
self. She caught hold of Mr.. Blossom,
as he rang the NeasElith's door bell on
Al III folI hi,,, ,@f e.,
notice any one. till he got his things off;
and on the way up stairs he snubbed the
minister and his brothers wife. When
they were going down stairs she COM
manded him to assume an air of formal
pleasure. and he obeyed by putting on a
stiffish grin.
Mrs. Blossom remembered to have
read in the etiquette book that after
noon that AT the most formal re-
eeptions, after addressing the host and
hostess, pass at once to the refreshment
room" And she said, twas a mercy
it said that, for she never would have
thought of it in the world. So, after
shaking hands formally with Mr.. and
Mrs. Neasmith, she walked with fixed
determination toward the refreshment
room.
~ say, Sue," whispered Mr.. Bios
som. ..let's wait tillwe see someone else
going" E
But Mrs. Blossom said: /" The book
says go Immediately and I'm going to
do it :"
The door in the dining room was
closed, but Mrs. Blossom, with a hand
nerved with the consciousness of right,
turned the knob and walked boldly in.
She took her stand at small table, near
the center of the room, and told Mr..
Blossom: a. BY no means to sit down,
but partake of refreshments standing"
Mr.. Blossom said in an anxious tone:
A." Sue, there amt another person in
this room" And sure enough, they
were the sole occupants. Even Mrs.
Blossoms faith wavered for u moment,
| but q bright idea suggested itself.
"Why, of course, they've all got
through, we came last" and she slipped
her coffee, with vain attempt at a
festive air.
81 say, Sue, this is social" observed
Mr.. Blossom, facetiously. 1--WE might
as well be lunching it in our own dining
room at home, except that they beat us
ON variety"
But his wife helped herself to some
more chicken salad, and said that was
the way they always did at receptions;
she hoped he didn't think he was at a
dinner party. 9 a.a.t
Somebody opened the door from the
parlor. 1t was Mr.. Mccormick. Why,
halo Plossoun - ba said taking IL ollf