The Washington critic., 1888-02-04
SOCIAL ETIQUETTE.
a rev Hints TO the Unwary In the
Giddyocracy of Washington.

a rev Hints to the Unwary In the
Giddyocracy of Washington.
In view of the fact that etiquette is the
machinery by means of which society is
made harmonious and the relations be-
tween persons OF congenial tastes and
pursuits are established and maintained
[See Keim, page 1913, II, The Carrie pro-
poses TO give its readers and others few
drops ofgrease to lubrioate with and make
the Washington machine run smoothly.
Calls are the most numerous events
during the season. They are clearly de-
fined as morning and evening calls
Morning calls are made in the morning
and evening calls arc made in the even
ing. This looks. simple enough, but IL
isn't. Make n call any time before noon
and see If Il is. The evening call Is safer.
These calls do not include telephone calls
and calls at poker. These latter are of a
business character exclusively.
Iigh-priced calls are made in carriages,
middling calls are made in street cars,
and plain, untrimmed calls are made on
foot.
Calls should be returned as soon as pos
sible. If they are not returned, the
callee will be forced to get new ones, and
GOODNESS may spring up.
Every lady has her day. Which has
also been remarked of Fido, though "dog
days. come later in the year.
Never look at the time when calling.
When the callee yawns get up and go.
In the matter of cards, never use cold
deck on lady, unless she is an intimate
friend, for strangers do not admire too
great familiarity. On entering society
come in at the front door, unless you
know the cook very well. We have heard
of man who tore the entire tail off of q
ifty.dollar coat on the nails in the back
fence.
In using cards never trump your part.
ner's ace that is to say, don't leave card
where your wife has left hers. Ones q
plenty Economy is wealth.
An introduction is the first step to an
acquaintance in good society. But never
present one person TO another until you
know the present will be acceptable.
This prevents inquisitiye people looking
gift horse in the mouth.
Always present less important person
TO the more important but don't let the
less important get on to your racket.
a gentleman should always raise his
hat to lady. When gentleman is too
poor to raise hat he should get out of
society and go on the road.
A gentleman should not offer to shake
hands with lady. If it must be done
let the lady give the man the shake.
In the matter of dress, gentlemen may
wear as much as they desire and ladies rs
little. This is dc rigeW.
IL is not necessary to talk in the best So
ciety. A cold and naughty reserve is bet
ter form, and may be used as q screen to
protect others from the dazzling glare of
your ignorance.
Do not flatter. Compliments are so
cheap they are vulgar. Tell the lady
she is perfectly divine and let her go at
that. HfaAN
Never use slang. It's rot. Society is
dead down on II and don't you forget it.
Gentlemen will not spit on the carpet
as long as they can find aregister or know
the way to the front door, where they can
use the cool bracing air of the night for
cuspidor.
II is the best form to refer to gentlemen
as "men." 1t is a mislit as applied to
dudes, but society demands it.
A host or hostess should not overlook
their younger guests. A young man with
girl out on the front stairs hates like
| thunder to be overlooked Let him be.
He knows what he is about. SO does the
girl.
A gentleman should always address his
| wife in company as Mrs. So and So. If
he feels like calling her "Say" or "0ld
| Sorrel Top" or any Of those endearing
terms, he should restrain his impetuosity
lOi tiiS oVihSobiS ShNiSs hi9 AbiS WI No
both ways.
Do not eat your pie with knife. This
is chestnut, but It will be in the nature
of news to quite number of people in
society and Just getting in.
Lounging on sofas, chairs, ETC., in so.
ciety is bad form. Get on q shutter and
let somebody carry you home.
Do not slap the host or hostess on the
the back. Everybody isn't a politician,
and these striking evidences of intimacy
are not always agreeable.
Do not take cold in the head into So
| ciety. Entertain it at home.
| Never lose your temper in society. Some
innocent, unsuspecting person might find
| it and be ruined forever.
Never put your feet on the furniture in
n parlor, unless you have scraped the
mud off your shoes at the front door.
Never offer person chair from which
you have just risen. Offer twhile you
are sitting on it, and you won't have tC
stand up the rest of the evening,
No gentleman will be guilty Of pro
family in the presence of any lady except
his wife,
Gossip is the bane of society, and so
ciety is SO constituted that it cannot exis
without bane. Always take ban,
along with you, and the juicier it is thu
more popular you will be.
+ To be Continued I