The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness: A Complete Handbook for the Use of the Lady in Polite Society ...

Front Cover
Lee & Shepard, 1872 - Education - 340 pages
In preparing a book of etiquette for ladies, I would lay down as the first rule, "Do unto others as you would others should do to you." You can never be rude if you bear the rule always in mind, for what lady likes to be treated rudely? True Christian politeness will always be the result of an unselfish regard for the feelings of others, and though you may err in the ceremonious points of etiquette, you will never be impolite. Politeness, founded upon such a rule, becomes the expression, in graceful manner, of social virtues. The spirit of politeness consists in a certain attention to forms and ceremonies, which are meant both to please others and ourselves, and to make others pleased with us; a still clearer definition may be given by saying that politeness is goodness of heart put into daily practice; there can be no _true_ politeness without kindness, purity, singleness of heart, and sensibility.

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Contents

I
11
II
21
III
34
IV
40
V
44
VII
54
IX
60
XI
66
XX
116
XXI
142
XXII
154
XXIII
158
XXIV
166
XXV
172
XXVI
178
XXVII
232

XIII
76
XIV
81
XV
87
XVI
97
XVIII
105
XIX
109
XXVIII
244
XXIX
259
XXX
264
XXXI
283
XXXII
303

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Page 296 - There is such a rush of all other kinds of words in our days, that it seems desirable to give kind words a chance among them. There are vain words, and idle words, and hasty words, and spiteful words, and silly words, and empty words, and profane words, and boisterous words, and warlike words.
Page 296 - ... words, and silly words, and empty words, and profane words, and boisterous words, and warlike words. Kind words also produce their own image on men's souls, and a beautiful image it is. They smooth, and quiet, and comfort the hearer.
Page 292 - Manners are of more importance than laws. Upon them, in a great measure, the laws depend. The law touches us but here and there, and now and then. Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine us, by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation, like that of the air we breathe in.
Page 12 - This would make them consider, whether what they speak be worth hearing ; whether there be either wit or sense in what they are about to say ; and, whether it be' adapted to the time when, the place where, and the person to whom, it is spoken.
Page 296 - Cold words freeze people, and hot words scorch them, and bitter words make them bitter, and wrathful words make them wrathful.
Page 327 - Silks intended for dress should not be kept long in the house before they are made up, as lying in the folds will have a tendency to impair its durability, by causing it to cut or split, particularly if the silk has been thickened by gum.
Page 300 - A wellregulated mind can find time to attend to all. When a girl is nine or ten years old, she should be accustomed to take some regular share in household duties, and to feel responsible for the manner in which her part is...
Page 272 - The warm, tepid, cold, or shower bath, as a means of preserving health, ought to be in as common use as a change of apparel, for it is equally a measure of necessary cleanliness.
Page 289 - It is not, therefore, the use of the innocent amusements of life which is dangerous, but the abuse of them ; — it is not when they are occasionally, but when they are constantly pursued ; when the love of amusement degenerates into a passion, and when, from being an occasional indulgence, it becomes an habitual desire.
Page 274 - The rule is, therefore, not to dress in an invariable way in all cases, but to put on clothing in kind and quantity sufficient in the individual case to protect the body effectually from an abiding sensation of cold, however slight.

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