Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1890-07-15
LAWS or ETIQUETTE.
THEY ARE THE OUTCOME OF KIND.
NESS AND WlSDOx.
No Society Without Thsm-A Bundle
Of Uuwri,ten Laws Etiquette Not
All NnnvenuA

|
All Nonsense.
Whist is etiquette? Some one has
defined it ~ common sense set to rule.
Webster says it is observance of tie
of rank and OCCASION; cot.
ven,,onal decorum." This is, proba.
bly,, as good definition Ms any that
can be given, but etiqu-tte may also
be called bundle OF unwritten laws
for the advancement OF the happiness
OF every one in general and ~ partic.
uIar. They are the k'ndest aud best
OF al! laws, aud they often have more
power to restrain men aud women
from display OF temper aud rude.
u. IS than any moral law.
The foolish young girl who starts
out in life with the idea that etiquette
is "ali NONSENSE, and says SHE means
to have ''good time" III her own
way, does not realize that without Ell.
quette she cannot have the "good
time" that she wishes. The laws of
tt!qutt,e are u good many years Older
than she is, aud they have been made
ami revised by hundreds Of kind and
wise people. Etiquette is, truly, the
outRrowth Of kindness, wisdom and
good sense.
1t would not be etique tie for Z
young girl TO send out Invitations in
her Own name for q party that she de-
sires to give; they are sent IN her
mothers name, proving that she has
mother who is her chaperons AND
protector. And etiquette demands
that these notes of Invitation to an
swered without delay; xnd that the
guests who accept should appear At
the house within the hours prescribed,
in suitable costumes, sn0 do their best
i to make the affair success. Alter this
etiquette insists that all the invited
guests shall make call upon the
hostess, and tell her of the pleasure
that she has given them. But this
must not b. done until several days
have pa- sed, and the house has as.
sumed its normal condition, and the
members OF the house hold have recov.
cred from any fatigue cons quent up.
on tie entertainment.
Apsin, you are having luncheon
party and you have invited an even
number of intimate friends. 1t would
be announcement to be called from the
dining-room to see other visitors; it
would be a breach Of etiquette to
leave your invited guests, and the
table, being arranged for a certain
number, will not seat snv more. You
send word that you are mot at home"
and although the visitors may hear
voices. and among them your own, it
is etiquette for hem to leave card
and 90 away. There is no reason
Why they should feel insu't.d; mot
at home" is n conventional phrase,
merely meaning that one is not at
home to visitors If you have any
conscientious seruples about instruct
ing your servants to say mot at home"
tell them to repeat the whole sentence.
If you SET apart q certain dsv ofthe
week for receiving your friends. eti-
qnette demands that they shall call
upon you on that day end no other;
thus you are not interrupted in your
occupations or pleasures, whatever
thew may be.
Perhaps you are in mourning.
Some relative or friend who was very
dear to you has suddenly died. and
you are prostrat- WITH the shock aud
with e'ief. You feel that any visitors,
even thos" that may TO dear to you,
and who come with the best int-n.
tions, would only be intruders, aud
you feel hat it is impossible to see
anyone. Perhaps people will call to
whom you do not wish to be rud' on
the contrary, they are persons to whom
you would wish to be particularly
polite in all circumstances. But, JUS,
now. their sympathy is something you
do not want; in your present state Of
mind it would be unb-arablc. And
etiquette says that because you are IL
mourning you shall MT SEQ visitors;
YOU are at liberty to deny yourself to
every one.
u some relative has committed IN
act that throws disgrace On all those
who bear the same tame; and W,
feel that YOU can never lace the world
again. You wonder what people vii,
thlak aud say Of you and to you. lou
dread TO meet your friends snd &c
quai"tances, fearing that they ma!
refer to the shadow that has taller
across your name. But whrn yot
have gathered enough courage to faces
them, you f"d that they ignore tx
subject entirely, aud trest YOU with n
much consideration rs formerly
Hcsrtles>? Far from it. 1t is Ell
que,te to ignore the disagreeabl- xnC
to refrain from referring to q utjec
that may give pain to those presen,
So your friends visit you quit rs of