The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-10
CORRECT SOCIAL USAGE
Mrs. Adelaide Gordon Edits Volumes
on Self-Cultue and Good Form,


Written by Leaders of Society.
r. Three small, green volumes which
will be a help and comfort to men and
women who hesitate over the COM
plicated questions Of "good form
have been compiled by Adelaide Cor
don for the New York Society of Self
Culture. The society has found an
original and popular plan Of social
culture in presenting it's three green
volumes on Correct Social Usage as
text book, and in addition a bureau
Of inquiry has been established which
entities members to further lnforma-
| ton in regard to any perplexing cues
to think of a subject which is not COW
cred in one of the many chapters
of the three small books. The text
has been prepared by such leaders in
social form as the late, Mrs. John
Sherwood, Mrs. Harriet Hubbard Aver,
Logan, Rev. Phoebe A. Hanaford, Mrs.
Margaret E. Sangster, Mrs. Ella
Wheeler Wilcox, Marion Harland,
Adelaide Gordon, Marquise Clara
LAMA, Mrs. Leon Harvier, Mrs. Don
aid Mclean, Mrs. Dore Lyon, Mile.
Lille D'Angelo Bergh, Margaret
Watts Livingston, G. w. DeLyon
Nichols and Walter German Robin
son. These names are all familiar to
society, bookish people, club men and
women and to those who know any
thing of the musical smart set in New
York. < e.. III
The text is very comprehensive and
aims to answer intelligently such ques-
lions as these: do you know exactly
what to do, from start to finish, to
give a successful ball? Do you know
the art of making everyone comfort
able at your social affairs? What IS
the first thing to do on entering a
drawing-rOOm at a reception? Is as
paragus a finger food?" '.-,
"As Americans our manners are our
| weak point writes G.. w. DeLyon
Nichols, on whose shoulders Ward
McAllister's mantle has fallen. The
old saying that it takes two genera
refuted every day, for Americans are
| remarked not only for their facility
in amassing fortunes but in furnish
i ing themselves with presentable man
ners on short notice, under the right
/ environment, and with close applica-
i ton to this branch of self-culture." .,
The student of social culture is told
\ not only what to do, but how to talk,
and in her chapter on Conversation
Mrs. Burton Kingsland says: "A kind
4 providence has given to each Of us
mortals a strong desire for the appro-
baton of our fellows. We like TO
please and the most magnetic power
of attraction we possess lies in the
mastery of the art of conversation.
! Any one may become good CONVEX
sationalist, tho, like all accomplish
ments worth attainment, it is &C
quired only by perseverance. The
i light social conversation which Is in
requisition when we come into con-
tact with our fellows is like the small
change which passes from hand to
1 hand, convenient, almost indispen-
sable, but If ones whole fortune con
sisted Of such coin we should soon be
bankrupt. Make of your mind a
treasury from which you can draw
supplies. There are stories of even
when told, mark you as a person OF
more mind and quicker wit than one
Ewho merely agrees that "the weather
has been horrid of late.''$E.-
A graceful way of doing and say.
ing the little things is the sures
method Of acquiring a habit of cour.
tesy which is ready in any emergency
to do and say the right thing. Thi:
thought is the keynote Of Adelaide
Gordon's helpful chapters and the ia
cility with which she adapts society.
I gives a greater value to her teaching
especially to those who only occa
sionally go into society.
There is much good advice as wei
as practical information in the three
small volumes and Mrs. Gordon ha
conferred a benefit on the people wht
want to know how to do things prop
erly by placing an opportunity within
their reach Those who know tn
!. value Of Mrs. Gordon's articles hav
3 been waiting with interest the frs
= of the series of helpful papers on 9TH
Art of Being Agreeable which ap
r pears in Z h e J o u r n a to-day.