The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-06-28
GOOD FORM OF TO-DAY.


How ~ Differs from That OF the Past In
various Important te 'pect.
In a little BOOK just published, en-
titled Good Form" the etiquette OF
some few years ago is amusingly con-
trasted with that Of to-day. when every
thing is more succinct and expeditions
than it used 10 be-.
When the ladies' Of John J.ccch's time
went 10 dinner parties They wore shown
into bedroom, and allOwsl ! some min
utes 10 adjust their ringlcts. Now they
hand their cloak 20 n servant and walk
straight from their carrirg5 or cab TO
the presence OF their ho5'9'h AZ wc1-
dings IN "the IO," cnch bridesmaid had
n groomsman 30 lop after her aud 500
that she had what she li'gs1 at tho
elaborate breakfast Of tle m1tri-
monial function OF thlt dly. Now
there Is only a "bod man,
though how be comes by tho
supcrlativc a1i ,ciiye when ho IS solo
Proomsman it Is difficult 20 saG
Among other changes Of custom u!
that concerned win tho bridasm1iI :
dresses, which u3al ~ b. giyal by To-;
bride. And our aI'hore3 might hayD
added that il was no longer fashionable.
as IL thoa W q, Tor tlla bi 'c - cry. hA
weddings uOvniigs are dry-ejc!
Crying has gone out II WIS tt0
very height Of tlc fashion iu The yc1r
1927 When Sir Edward Bulwor Lyt-
ton married Miss Rosiua Whcslor nn
cyc-witncss Of the ceremony dcscrib'I
both bride and bridegroom ~ being
"ovcrcOmc with s'n5ibilily; pale. tot
terng and fearful" No one tottcr3 10
the altar now. IL would not be- good
form" Bat the bride must not, on tho
other hand. romp up the aisle in tho
oxultatiOn Of her heart The correct
pace is, perhaps best described rs re-
sembling that Of policeman on his
beat. II is slow aud stately.
Another marked change in soci1l
| customs Is mentioned in connection
with the etiquette Of "smnll and carly'
! parties. No longer docs hostess ask
her guests to sing play. This ordcnl f,
80 dreaded by the girl Of n couple OI
| decades ago, Is no lOnycr 10 be feared.
II hope you have brought somo music,
: Miss Smith was frequently the prc-
lude TO n distracting pcrfOrmanc' that
| gave pleasure To no one, least OF all ~
the player And, strange 10 say, now
that music Is always professional AMI
generally worth listening TO. IT. is dim.
cult 90 persuade people 30 rcnain silcn:
while IL Is going on; whereas. when
amateurs were singing, it would have
been considered a shocking piece OF
rudencss for any one to have talked till
the lady had finished describing how
she wore wreath Of roses, or the gen.
tlcman had finished dilating upon his
homeless, ragged and tanned condition.
At the dinner table it was considered
the duty OF the host and hostess To
urge their guest 10 cat 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 rs one il
did. the weight Of the viands being
transferred to that chapel Of ease -
the sidcboard whore, in scclusion, "A
hircling carvcs the joint and skillfully
dissccts the bird whose anatomy used
10 prove such an intricate problom 10
| the bothered amateur at the nnd Of tho
table. Skill in clrving is not now ono
Of the polite accomplishments whero-
with IL Is necessary To equip youth
| for his social career Till now cti-
| quctto books have bocn only unintcn-
tionally amusing, but the pro,cnt
writer treats hcr subject with s'nso
Of humor that malIcs it easy reading.
| London Daily News.