Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-05-02
gUIPS OF ETIQUETTE.
Some Curious Differences of Customs
and Manners.
A Man Considered Wellbred in One
Country May Be Regarded as
Boor in Another.

Etiquette was recently defined as com
mon sense set to rule; but no definition
could be further from correct, says the
Philadelphia Press. Many an action dc
tated by common sense would be In contra
yention of established observance where
forms Of etiquette are set up, as IN the
courts Of a monarch or prince. Even in
democratic country like the United States
acts Of kindness may be frequently con-
strued as breachesGof etiquette; but, un-
like most European countries, an AmerI-
can acts on the impulse Of politeness
rather than IN accordance with any rIgId
rule.
Again. were etiquette really common
sense set to rule, the variations OF custom
In different countries would Indicate that
each nation had a different standard OF
common sense. Thus an American gong
up or down stairs In public hotel does
not feel it incumbent on him to remove his
hat If a lady should be on the stairs. In
Europe il would be considered very rude
If a man did not uncover under such cir
clanstances. An American entering a
parlor. expects the lady Of the house to
rise and greet him. In Spain a lady
would seem to forfeit her self respect
should she exhibit so much forwardness.
s"'AN
in-arm in the streets Of Spanish city
without knowing they we're foreigners. A
Spanish husband, even, never takes his
wife, arm in public Nor would Span
ish woman receive a male visitor alone
Such il the system Of protection exer-
ciged over women by hidalgo, grdndee,
tradesman and peasant III the sunny land
of romance.
Among the notable guests at the Constl-
tutlonal Centennial banquet IN the Phlla-
delphia Academy Of Music in September,
1897, were the Chinese ENJOYS who accom-
panied Count Mitkiwioz t. this country IN
connection with the concessions TO Phlla-
delphia syndicate During the evening a
note was handed to the chief envoy, d
grave-looking elderly man. lie was
troubled for 4 moment and then made an
elaborate apology in French for the rude
ness Of which he was compelled to be
guilty, namely, the wearing OF his specta-
Giles in company long enough to read the
note 1t ii a gross breach of etiquette for
Chinaman to wear eyeglasses or specta-
cIes in company, and it is equally lmpollte
to euter Il room with the hat of. A gentle
man Of the Celestial kingdom always re
mains covered to show his respect. An
other piece of Chinese etiquette noticeable
ut the banquet was that although the
evening was fine, the enyoys wore rubber
overshoes until they reached the Academy
cloak room and removed them prior to en-
tering the ampbtheater Chinese ETH
qnctte forbids Il man to enter Il room with
soiled shoes. and consequently 0vershoes
are worn until arriving ut the house.
An American would never think of re-
moving his hat prior to speaking to amy
man on the street In Holland before
speaking to The most humble individual
out Of doors man uncOycrs. In Holland
too, men and women rarely purchase at the
same stores, but in cases where they do,
il i women discovers that men are assem-
BLEED inside she retreats until they leave.
live American 81 Drekeeper would prob
ably soon charge this feature of Dutch
etiquette The Americans, English, Ger
mans and Russians shake hands with him
IN bidding HIM welcome An Arab s
greeting is to rub his cheek against that
Of the person he saIuted and kiss him.
A Frenchmm welcomes a friend by en-
brlcing and kissing HIM, Though by slow
degrees this custom is being superseded.
The Japeuese customs are similar to
those Of China Ii is not an unusual sight
to see Il number Of Japanese remove then
sandals, cross their hands and cry Spare
no when II great man passes, but the
custom il rapidly going out of vogue
since the eaycn Of ghtenment has been
spreading through the land. A peculiar
mark Of esteem in Burmah is to ask per
mission to smell a persons face and ther
declare the perfume to be as sweet as somt
choice Hover. The custom is confined t,
Burmah and is not likely to spread. In
America p,l,tcness goes. as it should. be
fore all else One rule can be laid down
for general observance where person ,,
ideas Of the proper thing to do are unset
tied, let him make himself at home He
should do 50 III manner to create sOmC
respect for nome, unlike Il young man who
called At the office of noted Philapel
phian, somewhat famous for his straight
forward utterances
Make yourself at home for few min
ntcs said the owner Of the office to the
visitor
The Young man, having seated him.
sell somewhat comfortably, but mistaking
4 table for Il tootstooI, responded cheerily
Il always make myself ut howe
Then pity the poor people at nome,
WIS the quick response.