Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-21
SUB ROSA
BY MIMI.
Home Life of Perfect Lady.

| Have you ever watched a we'll bred
girl conducting herself with charm and
, ease of manner at some important
gathering where the Older people were
critical?
Have you envied her quiet poise? And
| then has she suddenly fallen from her
pedestal with loud crash by commit
| ting some atrocious social blunder such
as the etiquette books are 50 fond OF
| depicting? / mean. has she done s5me-
thing really dreadful-such as remain
/ ing seated when an Older woman came
in, or helping herself to tea first. be-
fore passing II on TO somebody's grand
mother III the background.
Either of these little offenses is suf-
ficient TO put any girl in wrong. And
| you may have beon terribly surprised TO
| b!under. Maybe you wondered how on
earth she came TO make such a slip.
| Let me tell you why. The perfect
lady you saw conducting herself so
beautifully when you first arrived wasn't
acting simply and naturally at all. She
| was showing off
She was displaying her knowledge
of what is called etiquette That is. She
was going through a few little tricks OF
courtesy and department which any
one can learn II he. she or 1t Will 20
to the nearest library and take out an
etiquette book
This business OF being we'll behaved
| can be learned Girls in the poorest
| circumstances with little education and
no opportunities, shave married wealthy
4 Sstrl
! in short time.
That sort of thing Is easy enough IL
one studies the Job and sticks 10 1t.
/ Good manners can be acquired rap
| Idly. but the art OF being a perfect lacy
is another matter again.
To study her at her best one must
visit her home You will find that even
In the humbleSt home. the p. L. Is func-
tioning as usual She doesn't let moth
sr do all the HARD work. She isn't nasty
and irritable TO the youngest brother.
She doesn't relax into easy slovcnlincss.
She isn't careless about table manners
because none but the family is around
10 see.
That's the secret OF the thing, you
see. Most girls will behave like dear
I little angels when there are flocks OF
| critical onlookers And they vii 60
| home and order mother around as II
she were a slave they behave like young
savages at the table. and they make TO
bones about courtesy with any mem
bars Of the family
That's why they're apt ~ make slips
II the big parties where thev'r. RI ally
anxious To, please They're not secure
YOU see Not being used IN perfect lady
hood. they can't act the part 10 perfee.
ton Since they are only plsy-acting
/ hat 70 IN xAsy
/ and spoil the whole show
/ You envy the charming, poised Young
/ thing who never blunders--who never
| makes false move who car sl~nvs
/ be depended on 10 use tact. even In the
worst situation9 Well she gets that
way by living the part instead OF act
| ing IT,
Being lady for the afternoon Is rot
part OF her lob She doeSn. have TO
put on herself the strain Of pretending
She can be herself. and that will do
! Do you see the pointP II you want 10
have perfect table manners wnea you're
dining of gold plate with the verri-
richS. you must stick 10 good table
manners at home with the family OF
Serviceable l0-cent dishes.
! II you want tn be- able 10 manage ciif-
| ficult people with ease and charm. val
must conquer the impulse To be rude
! and violent when baby brother gets ON
| your nerves
! II you want Ia make a hi, with older
people by virtue Of your considerat io,,
| for them. YOU must practice a little OF
II on mother now and then.
Before assuring yourself that you are
a perfect lady In every sense of the
word turn searchlight on your home
life and make sure Of where you stand,
| lCnnynEhi ln"Gl