Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-22
MODERN
MANNERS
George Washington Had Ideas
On Rules of Proper Behavior
By CAROLYN HAeNER SHAW

OH AuIeS OF FIOl
Today we commemorate
the birthday Of George
Washington. Historians have
never stressed the fact that
he was a great adherent 10
observance Of good manners.
The subject was Of such in
terest to him that In his early
manhood he kept a record Of
what he considered the cor
rect rules that should govern
proper behavior. 1t is believed
that he made notes of these
rules when only Is or IS
years OF age.
Upon going over some Of
these edicts laid down by
George Washington si1cr 90
years ago. I find that ore
can't get away from the ODE
vious fact that many Of them
At into our present way Of
life as well as they did then.
Picking a few of them at
random bears me out, ] be-
lieve.
His AdmOnitions
For example, we would all
do well to follow his adj
monitions with regard to
table manners.
make no show Of taking
great delight in your vic
tuals. Eat not with greedi-
ness. Lean not on the table,
neither find fault with what
you eat. Drink not nor talk
with your mouth full.
Cleanse not y"ir teo'f at
table with martin or fork.
but If others - L. it DE
done with a pick tooth. Be
not angry at table whatever
happers. # you have reason
to be s show it not. but put
on a cheerful countenance
especially if there be stran-
gers pres mt. for gco1 humor
makes a dish Of meat q
feast"
Other injunctions to re-
member; "Sleep not when
others speak, sit not when
others stand, speak not when
you should hold your peace,
walk not when others stop.
Use no reproachful language
against anyone. Neither curse
nor revile."
Don't Drum
I'm the presence of others
sing not to yourself with a
humming noise. nor drum
with your fingers or feet.
Read no letters or papers in
company, but when there is
a necessity for the doing of
it, you must ask leave. If
you cough, sneeze, yawn or
sigh. do it not loud, but pri-
vately, and speak not in your
yawning. but put your hand
kerchief or hand before your
face. and turn aside"
George Washington summed
up his edictS on decent be-
hav o. by saying: Every ac-
ton done in company should
bo zone with some sign of
respect to those that are
present"
While his q ~1s are
quantity expressed, they GER
'tainiy prove thai. although
our mode of life DOES change
down through the years, the
basic rule governing our man
ner habits remains the same
purely and simply -
thought for your fellow man.
Questions. Answers
@. While I was out yester-
day an acquaintance of mine
and her husband left cards.
In the lower left-hand cor
ner are the initials IN. B."
I am sorry to admit my ig-
norance, but I don't know
what they mean.
Mrs. l.. r. F.
A, The initials IN. B." are
from the Latin, "Nota Bene."
meaning Mote Well" and
call special attention to any
words which they precede.
You do not mention whether
or not an address is engraved
in the lower right-hand cor
ner of the card. ! rather
assume that it is, and the
IN. B. is probably pointing
out to you that the address
is a new one.
=; X !;
@. I recently attended a flu
neral, and was amazed to see
the small children of the
deceased dressed in black
from head to foot. This
seemed rather appalling to
me. as the children were all
under 10 and looked so
pitiful and lost in black