Social Life - or, The Manners and Customs of Polite Society

Maud C. Cooke

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• Publié par: chewyir
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 54
• Langue: English

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Social Life, by Maud C. Cooke
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Title: Social Life
or, The Manners and Customs of Polite Society
Author: Maud C. Cooke
Release Date: May 31, 2009 [eBook #28998]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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CONTENTSSocial Life
Good Morning
GOOD MORNING.
-i-Social Life
OR
The Manners and Customs of
Polite Society
CONTAINING
THE RULES OF ETIQUETTE FOR ALL
OCCASIONS AND
FORMING A COMPLETE GUIDE TO SELF-
CULTURE
IN CONVERSATION, DRESS,
DEPORTMENT,
CORRESPONDENCE, THE CARE OF
CHILDREN AND THE HOME.
BY
MAUD C. COOKE,
THE WELL-KNOWN AND POPULAR AUTHOR.
EMBELLISHED WITH COLORED
PHOTOTYPES.
BUFFALO, N.Y.
The Matthews-Northrup Co.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1896, by
J. R. JONES,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D.C.
All Rights Reserved.
-iii-PREFACE.
HERE is much truth and force in the old saying, thatT
"Manners make the man." All persons should know
how to appear to the best advantage in polite
society. This very attractive volume furnishes rules
of etiquette for all occasions, and is a complete
guide for daily use in all matters pertaining to social
intercourse.
The first department treats of Introductions and
Salutations. The rules given under this head are
those constantly observed in the best society. The same is equally
true of all the instructions throughout the book, which is the most
complete work on this subject ever issued.The next department treats of the very important Art of Conversation.
It has been said, with truth, that "a good talker is always a social
success." The reader is here taught how to converse agreeably and
with ease. To be a bright, witty, interesting talker, is a most charming
accomplishment. This volume is a help in this respect, the value of
which cannot be overestimated.
Visiting Cards and Customs are next treated, and all the perplexing
questions which they occasion are fully answered. With this very
comprehensive volume at hand, no person will be guilty of blunders
and humiliating mistakes.
Invitations, Formal and Informal, Acceptances and Regrets, form
another topic. The work furnishes full information and is authority
upon all matters of social etiquette.
All young persons, and some older ones, are deeply interested in the
Etiquette of Courtship and Marriage, Weddings and Wedding
Anniversaries. These subjects are treated in a manner at once
practical and instructive.
The usages of the best society in giving Parties, Dinners, Teas,
Receptions, Breakfasts, Luncheons, etc., are minutely described.
Also, Home Etiquette and Etiquette for Children. With this volume in
the home, parents can easily teach the young polite and winning
manners.
-iv-Miscellaneous Entertainments form a department that is bright and
sparkling. The dark side of life is not overlooked, Etiquette of
Funerals forming a separate topic. How the young lady should "come
out" is stated in full, with invaluable instructions to her parents and
herself.
Then we come to Etiquette of Public Places, followed by that of
Walking, Riding, Boating, Driving, etc. Etiquette for Bicycle Riders
receives full attention. Here are Hints for Travelers, for Hostess and
Guest, General Etiquette and Delsarte Discipline, Musicales,
Soirées, Lawn Parties, etc. Washington Etiquette is described and all
the proper titles for professional and public men are given.
The Art of Dress receives exhaustive treatment, and the rules to be
observed by those who would dress tastefully are very complete.
They who are well dressed have already made a favorable
impression upon others. Suggestions and rules upon this subject are
important to all who would shine in social life.
Letter-Writing makes constant demands upon nearly all persons, yet
its difficulties are perplexing. Here are plain directions upon this
subject, which should be studied and followed by all who would
succeed in the great art of elegant correspondence. It is essential
often to have the best Forms for Letters, happily expressed, choice in
the use of words and easy and correct in grammatical construction.
Artistic Home Decorations are fully treated, showing how to have a
pretty, tasteful and inviting home at least expense. This subject is
receiving great attention everywhere, and this delightful volume
should be in every household in the land, as it furnishes just the
information needed. Fireplaces and Windows, Stairways, Woodwork,
Doors, Lighting, Decorating, Furniture and Paintings, are among the
topics treated in this part of the volume.
In short, this work is a treasury of rules and information on every
subject of Social Etiquette, Self-Culture and Home Life.
An entirely new and very important feature is the beautiful Phototype
Engravings in rich colors. The publishers consider themselves
fortunate in being able to present these new and admirable
embellishments, which have been pronounced gems of art.-v-CONTENTS.
PAGE
Title-Page i
Preface iii
Contents v
The Essence of Etiquette 17
Introductions and Salutations 23
Art of Conversation 37
Visiting Cards 51
Visiting Customs 69
Invitations, Formal and Informal 83
Acceptances and Regrets 107
Etiquette of Courtship and Marriage 116
Weddings and Wedding Anniversaries 143
Home Etiquette 165
Etiquette for Children 180
Dinner Giving 189
Table Etiquette 211
Evening Parties, Receptions and Suppers 227
Balls, Dancing and Masquerades 241
Soirées, Musicales and Lawn Parties 261
-vi-Breakfasts, Luncheons and Teas 274
Miscellaneous Entertainments 296
Christenings, Confirmations and Graduations 315
Etiquette of Funerals and Mourning 323
Etiquette of Public Places 328
Walking, Riding, Boating, Driving 334
Bicycle Etiquette 343
Club Etiquette 352
Society 358
General Etiquette 364
Washington Etiquette 374
Delsartean Discipline 378
Art of Dress 388
Colors and Complexions 398
Dress for Special Occasions 408
Letter Writing 429
Forms for Letters 452
Artistic Home Decorations 467
How to be Beautiful 492The Summer Outing
THE SUMMER OUTING—A MORNING CALL.
-17-
THE ESSENCE OF ETIQUETTE.
HE old chronicler says, "MannersT maketh man." "Manners are not the
character, but they are the dress of
character," adds a modern writer.
Manners are not the pure gold of the
mind, but they set the mint stamp upon
the crude ore and fit it for circulation,
and few there be who may dare to set
aside their valuation. To genius only is
this privilege granted, and genius is
exceeding rare.
It should be remembered that more
people can give the list of Dr. Samuel
Johnson's sins against good manners than can quote from his
"Rasselas" and "Rambler," while there will always be more who can
descant upon the selfish, tyrannical ill-breeding of Thomas Carlyle
than can estimate the value and immensity of his literary labors.
The essence of all etiquette will be found in that Golden Rule from
Holy Writ that enjoins upon us to "do unto others as we would that
they should do unto us," and whereon Lord Chesterfield based his
maxim for the cultivation of manners:
"Observe carefully what pleases or displeases you in others, and be
persuaded that, in general, the same things will please or displease
them in you."
The social code, even in its smallest particulars, is the outgrowth of a
kindly regard for the feelings of others, even in the little things of life,
-18-and a kindly sympathy for all that interests your companions.
"Be hospitable toward the ideas of others," says Dr. George Ripley.
"Some people," he asserts, "only half listen to you, because they are
considering, even while you speak, with what wealth of wit they will
reply." Such people may be brilliant, but they can never beagreeable. You feel that they are impatient to have their own turn
come, and have none of the gentle receptiveness so pleasing to our
own ego that rebels against their egotism.
It is the kind and sympathetic soul that wins friends, and
"He who has a thousand friends
Has not a friend to spare,
But he who has an enemy
Will find him everywhere."