Evening star., 1940-06-03

Betsy Casweli. fast, until 1t
would appear that every one is strug
Cling to do the correct thing under
all circumstances, and wants COM
plete directions toward accomplish
ing this.
This is a good thing. In a day
when many of the old formalities
have been forced, through modern
living conditions, into oblivion, II
would be too easy to become slack
in the few that remain to us. That
this is not so is a bright symptom
of the alertness and wish for perfec-
ton that exists in young and old
The more power to them!
Many of the inquirers also ask us
II we can recommend good general
book on etiquette. We can, and do
for there are several outstanding
volumes on the subject available
These are not inexpensive, but can
be very helpful to one who feels
that few dollars are worthwhile
investment in the great cause of
doing the correct thing at the right
time. The majority of these books
has a section particularly devoted
to Washington official social life,
which adds materially to their help
3ulness for the newcomers here.
In general, however, they are de-
signed to cover the accepted Gus
toms in the larger cities throughout
the country, and this they do with
great thoroughness in most in
stances. Among the newest of these
publications is one which has Just
been released by Frederick A. Stokes
Co. OF New York, THE New Ell
quette" by Margery Wilson who is
well known for the course in per-
sonal charm which she has devel-
oped to the great benefit of hun
dreds OF thousands of men and
women all over the United States.
To Miss Wilson, etiquette extends
Tar beyond the usual Interpretation
OF the word. She stresses par
ticularly the Importance OF proper
control Of the body in ones daily
life-that is, the necessity for NOV
Ing gracefully, Of rising, sitting or
standing with ease and confidence:
the need for repose and lack of
fiuttering movement. She even
gives instructions for rising grace
fully from a low divan-Which is
something many of us should study
to advantage! I'm not so sure
that I enjoy her picture of the
lady who dispensed coffee to her
guests kneeling beside the low table.
so as to avoid leaning over it
giraffe fashion"-it must be a bit
startling to see ones hostess sud-
denly flop into a prayerful position
and start handing out cups! On
the whole, however, Miss Wilson
has got the right idea about ply
sical coordination and grace being
q part of etiquette in that it OBJ
viates awkwardness and adds to
ones charm and confidence.
The book covers a variety of pro-
blems, including doors" chairs" !"
tables" and how to handle them,
through clothes for both men and
women, names, cards, introductions
and so on, to entertaining, tips,
school-age etiquette, and a myriad
other important matters. OF course,
the usual wedding and service de-
tails are well taken care of, and the
book is both readable and in
formative.
In one section on parties, though,
I did get two slight shocks. One
was a description of well re-
commended form of entertaining
at dinner-where the guests were
said to usually arrive about eight,
and sit for several hours over cock
tails and canapes in the great fire.
lit rooms" I shudder to think
what would happen at the buffet
supper to follow after such a long
period devoted to the warming-up
process! And the second shock
occurred when I read about a ter