The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-15

Z. Question: was much interested in your let
ter of last week TO amy Country Bump
KIN. ! am navy country bmpkin. and the
same questions that troubled your army friend troi-
bic me But. thanks 10 yoUr advice 20 him. have
made my call AZ the White House. imagined that
you made too little Of IT, and il would he more Of
an ordeal. but II exactly as yuu said Now [
am writing % ask you 20 persuade the authorities
20 Issue a social manual % all the Young officers
who are appointed from cvi' life. for. without
course at Annapolis OF West Point there are many
little things that these men don't know I SAY
little things, but these social questions are TIE
greatest ones have ever had TO deal with. and a
person IN an Official position who Is ignorant ~
social laws suffers the frequent and great humilia-
ton while be is catching on " Now If we had n
set Of rules We could at least learn them and do
as nearly as possible what Is required Of Us Il
never occurred 20 me that I was in duty bound 10
call At the White House until read your letter 10
Country Bumpkin. and I have probably missed
doing lot Of other things that are expected q
me Just because don't know I was talking your
letter over with an old dog the other day and
he said that before examinations were instituted
the candidates f0r military positions were brought
before board and after an applicant was generally
oyerhauled, he was asked 70 dine IN a few DAYS or
so WITH some member q the board, and. n he WAS
otherwise satisfactory his appointment depended en-
tirey upon how he conducted himself az that din.
ner. This seems 20 a wise plan for there is a
lot IN how man behaTes at dinner. But can YOU
verify this: very Truly yOurS.
NAVY COUNTRY PUMPKIN
Answer-The Arbiter quite agrees with
you that 1t would be a wise plan to issue
a social manual 70 young military Of
ficers- Even those who go through the
military schools could review what they
learned there with benefit to themselves.
But the issuance OF such a manual would
surely create talk. and the military de-
partments would Immediately be accused
of seeking to develop social sweIls in
stead Of brave and stalwart officers a.
and talk is just what these establish
ments have suffered most from aud what
they seek TO avoid. 1 understand that
some Of the army appointees from civil
life are given set OF typewriter social
rules for their guidance. but I cannot
speak with authority on the subject AS
to whether man was ever appointed 10
a military position or turned down be-
cause of his behavior at dinner table 7
know nothing. save 1t Is good story
and one that l have frequently heard I
am very glad my letter 10 the army coun-
try pumpkin was helpful to you, and
shall be happy TO answer any questions
you may ask me.
s. Question-Is il correct for gentleman ~
shake hands with 4 lady with his glove on?
Answer-It is frequently done. but II
is not good form 1t is perfectly unpar-
donable, however, for a man to shake
the ungloved hand of woman with his
gloved hand. OF course you know that
the custom for a man to unglove his
hand when taking that Of a lady dates
back to those early times when men
wore iron gloves, the pressure of which
would have been Dagnf1rI
9. Question-In giving a large ball is I, nor
missible TO invite people to your house on whom
you have never calledf This is often done in Lon
don. but am ignorant regarding the custom here.
Answer-No; you cannot invite any
one to your house until you have first
called upon him.