Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-07-12
GOOD FORM OF TO-DAY.
How Ii Differs From That of the Past In
Verious Important Respects.

In little book jr>t published. en-
titled Good Form. s-.he etiquette of
some few years ago iss amusingly con-
trasted with that of to-day, when
everything is more succinct and ex-
peditious than it used to be.
When the ladies of John Leech's
time went TO dinner parties they were
shown into bedrooms and allowed
some minutes to adjust their ringlets.
Now they hand their cloak to a SER
want, and walk straight from their
carriages or cab TO the presence of
their hostess. At weddings in 1.-THE
Forties' each bridesmaid had grooms-
man To look after her and see that she
hAd what she liked at the elaborate
breakfasts of the matrimonial function
of that day Now there is only
"best man." though how he comes by
the superlative adjective when he is
sole groomsman it is difficult TO say.
Among other changes of custom is
that concerned with the bridesmaids
dresses, which used to be given by the
bride. And our authoress might have
added that it is no longer fashionable.
Ms it then was. for TIE bride TO crv.
All weddings nowadays are dry-eyed.
Crying has "gone OUT 1t was the
very heighth of the fashion in the year
1927. When Sir Edward Bulwer Lyt-
ton married Miss R,sina Wheeler, an
eye witness of the ceremony describes
both bride and bridegroom as being
overcome with sensibility." pale, tot
tering. aud fearful. No one totters to
hn oil, = 10,
form" But the bride must not. on
the other hand. romp up the aisle in
the exultation of her heart. The cor
rect pace is. perhaps. best described
as resembling that of a policeman on
his beat. II is slow and stately.
Another marked change in social
customs is mentioned in connection
with the etiquette Of .'small and early"
parties. No longer does hostess ask
her guests to sing or play. This or
deal. so dreaded by the girl OF cou-
pie of decades ago, is no longer to
be feared. II hope YOU have brought
some music, Miss Smith," was fire.
quently the prelude to a distracting
performance that gave pleasure to no
one. least Of all to the player. And.
strange to say. now that music is al
ways professional. and generally worth
listening to. it is difficult to persuade
people to remain silent while it is go
ing on; whereas. when amateurs were
singing. it would have been considered
n shocking piece Of rudeness for any
one to have talked till the lady had
finished describing how she wore .
wreath of roses. or the gentleman had
finished dilating upon his homeless.
ragged, and tanned condition.
Al the dinner table it was considered
the duty of the host and hostess to
urge their guests to eat. This custom
in our own day is entirely abandoned.
partly owing to the now universal
style of having all dishes handed
round. The board no longer groans
as once it did. the weight of the viands
being transferred to that chapel Of
ease. the sideboard. where, in seclu-
sion. a hireling carves the joint and
skillfully dissects the bird whose an
atomy used to prove such an intricate
problem tn the bothered amateur at
the end of the table. Skill IN carving
is not now one of the polite accom-
plishments wherewith it is necessary
to equip youth for his social career.
Till now. etiquette books have been
only unintentIonally amusing. but the
present writer treats her subject with
sense of humor that makes it easy
reading Daily NeUs.