The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-02
JHr CRUsr or SOCIETY
Under the Yoke Of Etiquette-By Jane
Eldridce.

Under fhe hphe 'i ff''tN~NN'
Eldridce.
The crust OF society has been on the
rarr4d edge OF anxiety lately about the
s-te-.ainment Of our royal guests. the
uuk. and Eulale. Charles +. Davis,
WON Cleveland saw NJ 20 select as the
1rnntas American guardian, has been
s-tertIy criticised; some sag he over
,stmated himself and under-estimatcd
e..ety Ward McAllister says ne never,
Ar ali his long and useful career, saw
go poorly managed an affair as me re-
r.ufl0u and entertainment Of the Prin-
r..st such remarks are so strongly
favored with acid grapes. IL Ward had
been selected as the royal entertainer, no
doubt We would have been treated 70
some t0p-l0fucal lessons ia etiquette.
NsT. * Charles i. Davis knew nothing
about such mImmery, he has proven by
his management and care OF the In
faatas affairs that he knew something
better. J. e. common sense. Eulalle 8
visit was success. Why2 Davis was
The power behind the throne. He set
the pace, in common sense straight for
ward way, and snapped his fingers in the
face OF suOb and fad society. Mr. Davis
addressed both Prince and Princess as
simply Sir" and Madame" In short,
they were entertained ia American 50. le.
When foreigners reach our shores they
should not expect us % ape European
manners or iuythiug savorng Of royalty
OF monarchy. They should be amenable
Go 0ur laws OF society, as wei 10 those
governing the republic.
wish some one would write q new
book the text 90 bee every one his own
etiquette maker" and that etiquette TO
be founded on The solid platform Of COM
mon Sense. good manners and unseihsh-
Qess
Now, etiquette. as dellneated by some,
Is all selhshness and oil play. one so often
sees displayed I'm society exceedingly un-
comfortable old women, who are called
ont by woud-be fashionable daughters as
jgdicioUs chaperons. the aforesaid daugh-
ters being very certainly old enough and
ugly enough 10 look out for themselves.
The heavy yoke of etiquette Is then laid
on the meek shoulders Of poor old Mrs.
Hcayysldes I should indeed be sorry 10
Indicate who she is, but We an know her.
Years ago she was a Woodworking wo-
man. She and her old husband worked
hard for half life time; then they sud
denly got rich, and with a sigh OF relief
she and ne settled down 10 a nice. easy
going. happy religiOus, unOstentati0us,
unpretentious type Of man and woman.
They were happy and calm until sud
denly. IN their old age. the children swoop
down and drag out the aged couple and
cruelty try 20 make them fashionable.
Everybody IN Richmond knows Just how
fashionable they arel The poor old lady
Is laced up as tight as possible in satin;
Der honest simple old face is flanKed on
either side with idiotc puff sleeves, her
"a, neck Is surrounded with stiff collar
q sharp jet spikes. The poor old man is
utterly miserable, and presents a sorry
sicht in his fine clothes. Why not use n
little kind good sense. and let the poor
o.d folks be what they were created for
plain. ordinary. happy souls.
Then. who is the autOcrat Of visiting
card etiquette? The one-time custom Of a
nan and wife having a single visiting
card has gone out, and 81 a man now
leaves on the prefix air" from his card
he Is regarded as an eccent'icity; and II
q married woman fails 20 use the whole
o. her husbands name on her visiting
card she is set down as an IMPROPER
isrton who is not on good terms wi1a