I found the 1955 edition of Emily Post's Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage in a thrift store on Monday, and I have been having great fun reading through all the different chapters. Sometimes I wish I lived in the age of balls and dance cards and 'at-home' days. Actually, if I'm honest, I wish that most of the time. And then I remind myself that a lot of social and personal restrictions went along with the niceties, and that it wasn't all romance! She describes good manners as 'our contribution to the beauty of living,' which is a rather lovely way to put it, and, although there are many chapters dealing with such delights as the correct height for a tea table* and how one should pour the coffee, she takes care to emphasise that a positive attitude, sincerity and a generosity of spirit inspire the best manners of all.
"How many times has one heard someone say, 'No one is coming in. That old dress will do!' Old clothes! No manners! And what is the result? One wife more wonders why her husband neglects her! Curious how the habit of careless manners and the habit of old clothes go together. And how many women really lovely and good - especially good - commit aesthetic suicide by letting themselves slide down to where they feel natural in an old house coat, not only physically but mentally."
*By the way, a tea-table should be five to six inches above the knees of the hostess when she is seated and should usually be about 26 inches high, 27 to 36 inches long and 24 to 26 inches wide, in case you were wondering.
No comments:
Post a Comment