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Hints on Etiquette--And the Usages of Society [Secure eReader]
eBook by Longman
eBook Category: Humor/History
eBook Description: Well-bred people arrive as nearly at the appointed dinner hour as they can. It is a very vulgar assumption of importance purposely to arrive half an hour behind time; besides the folly of allowing eight or ten hungry people such a tempting opportunity of discussing your foibles. It may be a hundred and fifty years since this essential etiquette bible was first published, but within its pages is timeless advice on all manner of matters, from the dinner table to marriage, and from smoking to fashion.
eBook Publisher: Summersdale Non Fiction/Summersdale Humour
Fictionwise Release Date: October 2006
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Etiquette is the barrier which society draws
around itself as a protection against off ences
the ?law? cannot touch ? a
shield against the intrusion
of the impertinent, the
improper, and the vulgar
? a guard against those obtuse persons who,
having neither talent nor delicacy, would be
continually thrusting themselves into the
society of men to whom their presence might
(from the diff erence of feeling and habit) be
off ensive, and even insupportable.
Many unthinking persons consider the
observance of Etiquette to be nonsensical
and unfriendly, as consisting of unmeaning
forms, practised only by the silly and the
idle; an opinion which arises from their
not having refl ected on the reasons that
have caused certain rules to be established,
indispensable to the well-being of society,
and without which, indeed, it would
inevitably fall to pieces, and be destroyed.
Much misconstruction and unpleasant
feeling arises, especially in country towns,
from not knowing
what is ?expected?,
or necessary to be
done on certain
occasions, resulting
sometimes from the
prevalence of local
customs, with which
the world in general
are not supposed to
be acquainted.
Besides, in a mercantile country like England,
people are continually rising in the world.
Shopkeepers become merchants, and mechanics
manufacturers; with the possession of wealth
they acquire a taste for the luxuries of life,
expensive furniture, and gorgeous plate; also
numberless superfl uities, with the use of
which they are only imperfectly acquainted.
But although their capacities for enjoyment
increase, it rarely occurs that the polish of
their manners keeps pace with the rapidity
of their advancement: such persons are
often painfully reminded that wealth alone
is insuffi cient to protect them from the
mortifi cations a limited acquaintance with
society will entail upon the ambitious. Pride
often deters people from seeking the advice
of the experienced, when the opportunity
of receiving it is presented. It is to be hoped
that the following remarks will furnish a
guide through the intricacies of conventional
usage, without risk to the sensitive, or the
humiliation of publicly proclaiming the
defi ciencies of an imperfect education.
In all cases, the observances of the
Metropolis (as the seat of refi nement)
should be received as the standard of good
breeding.
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