The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-17
GOOD FORM or TO-DAY.
How II Differs from That Of the FHst 'n
Various Important Respects.

I'm little hook entitled Good Form, the
etiquette OF SONG few years ago is anuslnsly
contrasted with that Of today, when every
thing is more succinct and expeditions than
1t used 70 10
when the ladies OF John Leech's time wens
10 dinner parties they were shown into bee
rooms and allowed some minutes TO ADJUST
their ringlets Now they hand their CLOAK 70
n scrvant. and walk straight from their car
rage or cab TO the presence OF their h"si.''>
At weddings In "the Forties" each brides-
maid hal groomsman to look after her an"
Gee that she had what she liked at the eiAbo
rata breakfasts Of the matrimonial Junction
NJ that day. Now there IS only best man,
.hough how he comes 10y the supcrlative AL
iactive when he is sole groonsman II IS am
cult IN say.
Among other changes Of custom Is thal
concerned with the bridesmaids dresses,
which used to bc given 10y the bride. AM
our authoress might have added that 1t Is no
LONGER fashionable, as it then vas for the
bride 10 cry. All weddings nowadays are
dry eyed. Crying has gone out. IL was
the very height Of the fashion III the year
1877 When Sir Edward Bulwor Lytton
married Miss Rosna Wheeler, an eye withess
Of the ceremony describes both BRIDE ana
bridegroom as being Overcome with sen
| ibiity" pale, tottering and fearful NO
onc totters 10 the altar now. IL "Ould no'
| be good FORM But the bride must not Oh
the other hand, romp up the aisle IN the cA
iltation Of her heart. The correct pace Is
perhaps. best described as res .mblins that "l
a policeman on his beat 1t Is slow AMI
stately.
Another marked change ~ social customs
is-mentioncd in connection with the etiquette
Of ''small and early" parties No longer docs
4 hostess ash, her guests to sing or play lhis
ordeal. 81 dreaded 10y the girl Of couple OF
, decades ago, is no longer TO be feared y
hopo you have brought some music, Miss
| Smith" was frequently the prelude 10 dis
tracing performance that gave pleasure 70
| no one least Of all to the player. And.
strange to say, now that music Is always pro
fessonal, and generally worth listening To-
il IS difficult TO persuade people 10 remain
silent while II is going on, whereas whcn anna
tours were singing it would have been con
sidored a shocking piece Of rudeness io- any
one 10 have talked till the lady had finished
| describing how she wore a wreath OF roses
on the gentleman had finished dlatinS upon
his homeless. ragged and tannel condition
At the dinner table II was considered the
iuty Of the host AMI hostess to urge theli
guests to eat. This custom IN our owa day j.
entirely abandoned, partly owing 10 the no"
universal stylo Of having AL dishes handed
round. The board no longer groaas as once
i did, the weight Of the yiands being trans
.crred 20 that chapel Of case, the sidcboafd
where, in sccusion, hrcllns carves th'
Joint and skillfully dissects the biri "hoo
anatomy used TO prove such an intricate
problem to the bothered amateur at the ems
Of the table Skill in carving Is not now one
Of the polite accomplishments wherewlth It d
necessary 70 equip youth for hia social ca
reer. Till now etiquette books hayc hce'
only unintentionally amusing, but the preAeii
writer treats her subject with sense OF hu
NOR that makes it easy reading. LondoI
| Daily News