Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-08-08

not involve in war the two nations Of
which the combatants are such distiu-
guiShCd ornaments
Social Jsagcs.
After all. is there not vast difference
between manners and social uSagcs This
was the reflection which came to us after
pCrusing II chapter of extracts from Mrs.
John ShcrWoud's recent book of etiquette
entitled "Manncrs and Social Csugcs.
We are inclined to think that there is II
difference. and by no means an ncuusid-
cradle one. \ person may have excellent
manners. and yet he totally innocent uf
some of the most important rul-
ings Of modern polite society. one
may hc Il natural gentleman or Il
natural lady, and yet he quite ont of
place in Il company of social Journalists
The usHgco of polite society are closed
book to many people who are naturally
gifted with the kccncSt scnShiltics of pro-
plictN. The most perfect gentleman in
honest. hearty. sincere everyday life may
he an actual boor at "A fashionable dinner
party or assembly There is Il fashion in
usagcs, as in dress. and fashions change
about as often in the department of Ell
qucttc II, they do in the domain
of the modiStc. There are books and
books of manners. and few of hem agree in
the details of the art which they are
intended to teach one. for instance will
inform the reader in the most positive Ian
guagc that it is II breach of etiquette not
To call upon ones hostess after an after
noon tea. while another is sure that such
Il proceeding is intrusive and unnrcrs-
SaIy. The fact is that social usagcs are
constantly changing. The latest book
other things being cqual-muSt be consid-
cred the authority in etiquette Manners
never change. but the uSagcS of society are
as CapriCiuus and variable as the fanCics
and notions of that class of people whose
mission in life seems To be to set the
style" The art of SnuhbishncSS is grow
ing at an alarming rate and nowhere fast
or than in democratic America. We
ought to have IL "Magazinc of Etiquette. ''
which should make monthly note of all
the changes which have been introduced
into table and assembly etiquette since
the previous issue appeared. The occu-
Sionul book of manners is too soon ont of
date.
Mrs. Sherwood has been shrrwd enough
to catch the prevailing drift of American
Nll)illSIltNN. anu lllN IN IIIIll I.ll3
land Il choice lot of notions. bearing the
aristocratic stamp. which will undoubted-
" drive the common American product
from the market Good American hus-
bands and wives. who have always cunsid-
cred it the height of proprictY To return
social calls and discharge social Obiiga-
tionS in each others company. will he
shocked to learn that they have been com
hitting Il most vulgar and provincial err
ror. and that. if they would he ariStocratic
and stylish. they must 90 separately
Furt hcrmore. the convenient and neigh
bury habit of introducing ones towns
people To each olher. in cases where they
do not happen to he acquainted. is ac-
cordng To Mrs SherWood'S borrowed
English standard. "shocking bad form. &c
No one, under any circumstances what
ever. is to think of introducing two pco-
pie who live in the same town, 1t is too
bad that Mrs. Sherwood should leave us
in such dilemma. without explaining tine
English method Of getting ont of it. We
suppose that hereafter when Il person
wishes To get an introduction to somebody
who lives within the geographical limits
of his municipality, he will have to live
for week or two in some suburban vii
= lagc, and then present his claims to the
hostess as MIR Su-aud-s so from HUbVilc "
Truly. this is strange new fashion in
social usagcs.
Americans, as rule, do not pretend to
, he authority ON table manners. As ma
ton we have too good an appetite for that
Still, it will excite some surprise, if not
CONSERVATION, among our fashionable
= Al. l. L
: ring. which forms such an elegant piece
of table furniture in most well regulated
households. is western barbarity, which
no lady with the slightest self respect
= will allow upon her table Alas, what IL
mixing up of family napkins will now en-
!, sue What bushels of silver will 90 into
the melting-kettle;
Has the reader book upon etiquette :
Dispose of it to the first peddler at so
much per pound. If etiquette amounts
to anything, let us have il brand new and
with the current stamp. Nothing can he
more utterly Valucess than old etiquette,
unless it be old love letters Fashion has
dccreed II British renaissance in America
and in spite of ridiculc, of opposition. of
contempt the dude is on the winning side
and will prevail.
The Problem of Pleasure.
From the first day of July to the first day
of September the well-to-lo classes Of our
larger cities and towns are engaged in the
solution of II very important, but not gen
orally satisfactory problem--thc problem
of pleasure. 1t is an important problem
because il bears upon the great need of our
rapid American life-rest and recreation
it is an unsatisfactory problem because its
conditions are SO universally mis-statcd
and mistaken. The tendency to seek Il
respite from the bondage of counter and
desk is thoroughly commcndable. hut the
manner of carrying this desire into prac-
tice Is, for the most part, foolish and
, faulty. The very first condition of the
problem Is the one which is most apt To he
= ovcrlookcd-thc condition of fitness Most
people think that all which is necessary to
ti,,t,